Dymarkowski’s presentation resonated well with Patrick McColley, deputy director of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s District 2 (which includes Toledo), another member of the panel. McColley told Composites Manufacturing that ODOT is currently considering an “alternate bid” from Owens Corning for a resurfacing project for a bridge deck for the Anthony Wayne Trail in Toledo. While McColley was careful to note that there’s no guarantee that Owens Corning will win the bid, he believes the benefits of GFRP rebar are clear.
“If we have a structure where the reinforcement is much less corrosive, that’s a big deal up in Ohio where we really do pride ourselves on our snow and ice removal,” said McColley. “But snow and ice removal comes with a lot of salt, too, and salt causes problems with certain metals. That’s where we see a lot of promise [with composites].”
While attendees at the event came mostly from Ohio and Michigan, the discussion during the forum has national implications, as infrastructure remains a top priority of the Trump administration. The event complements efforts such as the American Composites Manufacturers Association’s Infrastructure Day last month, which Owens Corning and many other composites businesses participated in to advance legislation to drive federal investment in innovative material solutions for transportation, water and energy infrastructure.
