My community is in the process of replacing its streets, sewers, and water supplies.  Approximately 60% of the town has bituminous streets, 40% concrete.  We are in Minnesota.  Our city engineer, using 2006 prices quoted on roads designed to last 60 years with scheduled maintenance, concluded concrete would cost 6.8% more than bituminous over its lifetime.  (This was broken down by a 35% greater installation cost for concrete, but with lower maintenance costs to result in an overall cost difference of 6.8%)  Therefore, essentially a wash cost wise, with the main difference being when the costs are incurred (up front vs. maintenance over time), unless the prices of either material changes by the time the scheduled maintenance is required.

We are looking at the environmental impacts of choosing either material.  Does anyone have any research, studies, or relevant information to share.  We know each industry claims environmental friendliness based on use of pollutants in their mixes (i.e. pot ash and used shingles), and ability for each material to be recycled.  However, we are interested in the total impact to the environment on a full life cycle basis, from taking the product out of the ground, processing it, transporting it, installing it, wear and tear and leaching into the surrounding environment, recycling it over its life cycle and ultimately disposing of the product.  In other words, a total review of the environmental impacts, rather than just one or two limited aspects.  Is one material more "green" than the other when used on residential streets?  For example, other environmental considerations could be the related energy impacts, such as heating and cooling costs of the surrounding homes, street lighting cost differences, snow, salt and maintenance differences that may impact the environment, water run off, car mileage, pollution generated during its production,  transportation and installation, etc.

Thank you for any input.