Concrete Configuration bv provides traffic controllers and spotter spots with its own 'concrete look'

"We either do it right, or we don't," is the motto of Patrick van den Bemt of Concrete Configuration. The company applies concrete pavement whether figured or not. For the N264, it has applied the concrete for all traffic signals on the section from the A50 to Karrevracht, as well as the concrete for the spotter spots at Volkel Airport. Given the volume of traffic on this stretch, at times a tough job.

Concrete configuration, or pavements in printable concrete, we see increasingly used on roads, traffic circles and traffic guides but also especially in curves where the verge is often driven away. For example, a rattle strip on the traffic circle with a cobblestone look that also incorporates speed bumps to discourage traffic. "We can give all kinds of structures to the concrete," Patrick explains. "Think cobblestones, block joints, half-stones and so on. A big advantage is that there are no joints and seams in the surface, as in today's paving, so you also don't suffer from weeds and subsidence, for example." Betonfiguratie b.v. has been active in this field for years and is part of the Gebr. Oomen Groep b.v. It works mostly on behalf of contractors and municipalities. "With concrete you can do a lot, as long as you keep thinking creatively of what is possible and can be done. For example, we have already made a bicycle test lane in a bicycle store where the lane is concrete with clinker configuration. Another great example is the Old Police Barracks in Brussels. Here we provided the site with a cobblestone concrete configuration."

Applicable in any place

Reason that concrete configuration is increasingly used on roads is that it is low-maintenance while looking attractive. "In fact, it can be done in every conceivable location, regardless of traffic intensity. Depending on the location, we choose the right concrete strength, concrete thickness and apply reinforcement." For the conversion of the N264, Betonfiguratie b.v. provided all traffic guides with a gray block bond. In addition, the spotter spots were provided with concrete pavement in cobblestone form. "Later this year the next section will follow, the traffic circle at Velmolen. Here, too, we are providing the traffic circles with concrete pavement."

Collaboration

Concrete pouring is not always easy in practice. In particular, the volume of traffic on the N264 stretch creates challenges. "You have to do as much work as possible in a short period of time to minimize disruption to traffic. That means a lot of night work and sometimes weekend work. The tricky thing with pouring concrete is that you have to cut within a certain time frame to take the tension off the concrete pavement during the drying process. In practice, that doesn't always work out because the road can't just be closed." That said, Patrick is very appreciative of the cooperation with BAM. "Our relationship goes back many years and it has always been a good relationship. We have faced challenges several times that we always managed to bring to a successful conclusion. We don't do this alone, but together in good consultation. This good cooperation and understanding we have with each other gives us the opportunity to put down something beautiful like on the N264."