Nebraska Road Project Highlights New Cement Technology Powered by Local Clay

A 2.5-mile stretch of roadway in Nebraska is now serving as the first real-world demonstration of Duracem® N — a  calcined clay blended cement manufactured at Ash Grove’s Louisville Plant. The Nebraska Department of Transportation (DOT), known for its long history of innovation in pavement materials, selected Duracem® N to support the state’s commitment to durable, high-performing roadways built to withstand decades of use.

What Makes Duracem® N Different

Duracem® N incorporates calcined clay sourced from abundant clay deposits in Nebraska, a key advantage that ensures a reliable and consistent locally supplied material today and into the future. For customers, this translates into dependable lead times, cost stability, and a resilient material pipeline unaffected by global supply chain fluctuations.

The Louisville Plant is uniquely equipped for this product thanks to a recent transformation of a traditional cement kiln into a modern clay calciner along with milling upgrades. These enhancements enable precise calcination and controlled blending, resulting in high batch-to-batch uniformity — a critical benefit for contractors who rely on predictable performance and reduced reliance on chemical admixtures.

Full-scale production of Duracem® N will begin early in 2026, with customer deliveries expected in mid-2026. The Nebraska roadway is only the beginning of Duracem® N’s broader rollout across the Midwest.

Delivering Proven Performance

Duracem® N performs comparable to previous generations of Duracem® cement while simplifying concrete mix design and supporting long service life expectations.

The product has been approved for use by the Nebraska Department of Transportation, with further approvals forthcoming.