NYS Thruway Authority I-90 Rehab Project

Location: Victor, New York

Award: Durability

Project Team

Owner: New York State Thruway Authority

General Contractor: Villager Construction, Inc

Concrete Contractor: Surianello General Concrete Contractors, Inc

Engineer: LaBella Associates

Ready Mix Concrete: Dolomite dba Manitou Concrete

Slag Cement: St Marys Cement

Located in Victor, New York, this New York State Thruway Authority project marks a significant transition in how infrastructure is built in the Empire State. Starting in May of 2024, the New York State Department of Transportation moved away from traditional prescriptive formulas toward Performance Engineered Mixtures, or PEM. This project utilized those new specifications to replace existing median barriers and perform critical reconstruction on bridge culverts and wingwalls.

By shifting the focus from fixed recipes to specific performance characteristics, the team was able to optimize the mix for maximum durability and a reduced environmental impact. Slag cement played a starring role in this new approach. By increasing the use of supplementary cementitious materials like slag, the project successfully lowered the overall cement content and reduced the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the build.

The real-world performance of this slag-enhanced PEM mix was exceptional. Despite the challenges of hot weather construction, the concrete showed minimal slump loss and no issues with flash setting. The workability was so high that the barrier required very little handwork after extrusion once the desired slump was reached.

Beyond the structural and environmental benefits, the finished product delivered a consistent, high-quality appearance. The bright white color of the cured slag cement barrier provides added value for the Thruway Authority, offering a clean and highly visible safety feature. This project serves as a successful blueprint for how New York’s new performance-based standards, combined with the power of slag cement, can create stronger and more sustainable infrastructure.

Application Type

Application Type	Performance Engineered Mix Design (PEM) for Concrete Barrier
% Slag Cement Replacement	34%
% Portland Cement
% Portland Limestone Cement	60%
% Other SCM (if applicable)	6% Silica Fume
Aggregate	Crushed Limestone
Water/cement ratio	.37
7-day strengths	5930 PSI
28-day strengths	6780 PSI