The Value Of The Aggregates Industry To America
During the past 60 years, per capita consumption of aggregates has increased from 3.5 metric
tons per year to over 10 metric tons annually - that is just over 22,000 pounds for every man,
woman and child in America each year!
Production of aggregates in the U.S. went from about 351 million metric tons in 1940 to approximately
2.78 billion metric tons in 2001.
Every state, virtually every Congressional District and 70% of the nation's counties are home to an aggregate operation.
An estimated 38,000 tons of aggregates are necessary to construct one mile of lane of interstate highway.
Construction of an average modern home requires 400 tons of aggregate.
15,000 tons of aggregates are required for the construction of an average size school or hospital.
Over the past 30 years, there has been a 30% increase in the nation's population, a 64% increase
in the number of licensed drivers, an 87% increase in the number of licensed vehicles and a 125%
increase in the number of vehicle miles travelled, but only a 6% increase in highway capacity.
For every $1 billion spent on highway construction, 42,100 jobs are generated annually.
According to the FHWA, $83 billion is needed annually to maintain and improve the highway system.
In 2002, 31.8 billion was appropriated for highways.
94% of asphalt and 80% of concrete is made up of aggregates.
90% of aggregates are used within 50 miles of their place of extraction.
