BRIDGE WIDENING PROBLEMS

THE CALIFORNIA DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS WIDENED 341 BRIDGE STRUCTURES BETWEEN 1950 AND 1963. MAINTENANCE HISTORY INDICATES THAT THE METHODS USED HAVE PRODUCED RESULTS WHICH VARY CONSIDERABLY IN EFFECTIVENESS. THE RESULTS OF A FIELD PERFORMANCE SURVEY AND EVALUATION OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS ARE REPORTED. IN MANY CASES THE QUALITY OF THE RIDING SURFACE AND THE APPEARANCE OF THE BRIDGE DECK IS ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING FACTORS' SPALLING OF BITUMINOUS CONCRETE OVER THE LONGITUDINAL JOINTS, UNUSUALLY HIGH ESCARPMENTS ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL JOINT, SPALLING OF THE ORIGINAL CONCRETE IN THE RECLAIMED DECK AREA, AND SPALLING OF PATCHES THAT WERE PLACED OVER THE CUT OFF CURB DOWELS AND THE TEMPORARY RAILING HOLDDOWNS, OR IN LOW SPOTS OF THE RECLAIMED DECK. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A SMOOTHER RIDING SURFACE WILL BE OBTAINED, BRIDGE DECK MAINTENANCE REDUCED AND DECK ESTHETICS IMPROVED BY ATTACHING WIDENED DECKS TO THE ORIGINAL THROUGH LAPPED DECK REINFORCING STEEL. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT ALL WIDENINGS OF SPANS OVER 60 FEET BE CONSTRUCTED WITH AT LEAST AN 18 INCH CLOSURE POUR BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL AND WIDENED DECK SECTIONS.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Hps-hpr1/2/, BPR-96, CDH-D-422, APR65
• Corporate Authors:

  California Division of Highways

  Bridge Department
  Sacramento, CA  United States  05914
• Authors:
  • STEWART, C F
• Publication Date: 1965-4

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Bridges; Concrete; Data collection; Evaluation; Maintenance; Methodology; Pavement widening; Performance; Records management; Riding qualities; Spalling; Surveys
• Uncontrolled Terms: Appearance; Field performance; Records; Widening
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00207741
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 1 1994 12:00AM