GUIDE RAIL GALVANIZING PROGRAM COMPLETED

THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY'S PLANS FOR GALVANIZING 275 MILES OF BADLY RUSTED, POORLY PAINTED BEAM TYPE GUIDE RAILING WERE PRESENTED IN 1964. CREW STAFFING, EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLE USES, AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ARE DESCRIBED. THE NEED FOR THIS GALVANIZATION PROGRAM RESULTED FROM THE FACTORS: (1) GOOD APPEARANCE WAS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN WITH PAINTED RAIL, (2) THE CONSTANT DRAIN ON MANPOWER AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO REHABILITATE THE RAILS WAS WEAKENING, AND (3) THE COST OF SURFACE PREPARATION, PAINTING, REALIGNING AND REPLACEMENT WAS SUBSTANTIAL. THE THRUWAY IS GEOGRAPHICALLY DIVIDED INTO FOUR DIVISIONS, EACH ROUGHLY 140 MILES IN LENGTH. GENERAL GUIDELINES WERE GIVEN TO EACH DIVISION ENGINEER FOR CREW STAFFING AND EQUIPMENT ASSIGNMENT. STAGING AREAS AT SECTION HEADQUARTERS WERE DESIGNATED AND AN APPROVED METHOD FOR STACKING RAIL WAS DEVELOPED. ALL GUIDE RAIL GALVANIZED UNDER THE 1964 PROGRAM WAS PROCESSED BY IMMERSION HORIZONTALLY IN THE ZINC BATH. INSPECTORS CHECKED THE THICKNESS OF ZINC COATING ON PROCESSED GUIDE RAIL WITH A MAGNETIC GAUGE. PROBLEMS OF THE FIRST YEAR WERE DIVIDED INTO THREE MAJOR GROUPS: (1) CONTACTORS' PROBLEMS IN THE INABILITY TO CLEAN THE OLD PAINT FROM THE GUIDE RAILS ON A VOLUME BASIS, (2) THRUWAY OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS OF ACCEPTANCE AND INSPECTION OF THE WORK, AND (3) THRUWAY EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS BASED PARTICULARLY ON THE ELECTRIC GENERATORS NEEDED. THE 1966 PROGRAM WAS PRACTICALLY A REPEAT OF THE 1965 EXPERIENCE. PRICE INCREASES WERE PREVALENT IN ALL AREAS. A SUMMARY IS PRESENTED IN TABLE FORM OF THE PROGRAM SHOWING THE COST AND SCOPE OF THE COMPLETE OPERATION.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1606878
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 99, No 7, PP 98-101, 1 TAB, 4 PHOT
• Authors:
  • Robertson, J A
• Publication Date: 1968-7

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Public Works
  • Publisher: Hanley Wood
  • ISSN: 0033-3840
  • Serial URL: http://www.pwmag.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acceptance; Aesthetics; Contractors; Costs; Galvanizing; Guardrails; Highway maintenance; Inspection; Thickness; Zinc
• Uncontrolled Terms: Immersion
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00218512
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 22 1994 12:00AM