Congress passed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package last Friday that will deliver $550 billion of new federal investments in America's infrastructure over five years. Experts say the money is sorely needed to ensure safe travel, as well as the efficient transport of goods across the country. The bill calls for investing $110 billion for roads, bridges and major infrastructure projects, including $40 billion for bridge repair, replacement and rehabilitation. The package not only includes road and bridge investment projects but also includes funding for transportation safety, reconnecting divided communities, design and reconstruction of street grids and parks, transit and rail updates, broadband improvements, airport, port and waterway upgrades, electric vehicle public transportation creation as well as improving power and water systems. This will be the single, largest dedicated infrastructure investment since the construction of the interstate highway system which started in the 1950s.

Since roads and highways make up a large part of budgeted infrastructure activity, it is especially important that the construction process is cost-efficient and timely. Knowing this, contractors, engineers and architects need to find simple, effective, and approved components to meet strict requirements. Armacell’s Monarch® 2062, 2045, 2062 as well as EnsoLite® IG2, IG3, and IV3 are PennDOT approved for use in seals between sections of pre-cast, reinforced concrete box culverts as well as closed-cell joint material for preset concrete bridge beams. This totals five products that Armacell offers to support the infrastructure market. Monarch high-performance foams, which are produced in bun form offer low water absorption, low-temperature resistance, high ozone resistance and the compression deflection, flexibility and durability required to make an effective gasket between interlocking concrete structures. EnsoLite products are also, high-performance, elastomeric closed-cell foam with the added benefit of being produced in continuous rolls which gasket fabricators may find more efficient for converting foam rolls into long sections of gasketing.

For more information on the recent infrastructure bill passed by Congress visit: https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/28/politics/infrastructure-bill-explained/index.html