BRIDGE DECK PROGRAM
This report provides an update on the status of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Bridge Deck Program. Included is information on types of materials, construction techniques, and policies used by WSDOT to rehabilitate bridge decks. A condition survey has been completed on all unprotected WSDOT concrete bridge decks. These data have allowed the department to improve its rehabilitation and protection program policies and strategies. Based on these data, 866 concrete bridges will probably not require protection during their life. Over the past eight years, WSDOT has applied and evaluated more than a dozen new bridge deck protection systems. These systems have included modified concretes, thin polymer concretes (PC), and polyester-styrene polymer concretes (PSPC). Providing a cost effective durable overlay and considering rapid construction needs where possible has been a primary objective of these new systems. Modified portland cement concrete overlays continue to be the department's preferred protective system based on in-service performance. Current special provisions allow a contractor to use either microsilica or latex modified concrete design mixes when a concrete overlay is specified. This has resulted in more competitive prices and has allowed the contractor two material options. The use of thin PC and PSPC overlays is still considered to be experimental. Several installations have resulted in post construction durability and performance problems. Evaluation of the problems and continued testing is in progress to evaluate their long-term effectiveness. Nearly half of the state bridges have been rehabilitated and overlaid since the inception of the Bridge Deck Program in the early 1970s. There remain 374 bridges, or nearly 6.0 million square feet of bridge decks yet to be overlaid. This represents approximately 15% of the total number of bridges maintained by WSDOT. Completion of the program is achievable by the year 2002, based on the current funding level of $20 million per biennium. The report is organized as follows: (I) Summary; (II) Current Status; (III) Evaluation of WSDOT's Existing Bridges; (IV) Deck Protection Strategy; (V) Post Construction Testing; and (VI) Other Related Bridge Rehabilitation Items.
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Corporate Authors:
Washington State Department of Transportation
Program Development Division, Transportation Building
Olympia, WA United States 98504-5201 - Publication Date: 1992-8
Language
- English
Media Info
- Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 86 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Concrete; Concrete overlays; Condition surveys; Corrosion protection; Cost effectiveness; Driver rehabilitation; Durability; Latex modified concrete; Overlays (Pavements); Performance evaluations; Polymer concrete; Silica fume; Thickness
- Uncontrolled Terms: Microsilica concrete; Rehabilitation
- Geographic Terms: Washington (State)
- Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00628880
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Apr 21 1993 12:00AM