Wearing Surface Testing: Yukon River Bridge

The Yukon River Bridge, also known as the E.L. Patton Bridge, carries the two-lane Dalton Highway and the trans-Alaska oil pipeline across the Yukon River at a 6% grade. It is 30 feet wide, with 6 spans; it was designed to withstand negative 60 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures, huge ice loads from the river, truck loads hauling supplies to the oil fields, the oil pipeline, and, in the future, a gas line. Over 30 years, the timber decking has been replaced several times - in 1981, 1992, 1999, and 2007. The trees that produced the original decking were massive old-growth firs, strong and close-grained. Subsequent decking has come from younger trees, which produce softer wood. As timber quality has decreased, time between replacements has also decreased, while material costs increase. Every time the Yukon River Bridge deck is resurfaced, it costs the public millions of dollars. Further, in the past only timber was used, and the quality of this material is decreasing as the cost is increasing. It is imperative that new materials for use as a wearing surface for this bridge be identified. This research seeks to identify a material suitable for bridge decking that will last more than 15 years. A longer-lasting material will mean future savings to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities in the millions of dollars.

• Record URL:
  https://scholarworks.alaska.edu/bitstream/handle/11122/7507/JL.Hulsey-et-al_Wearing-Surface-Testing-Yukon-River-Bridge_Final-12.24-Part1.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Alaska University Transportation Center

  University of Alaska, Fairbanks
  P.O. Box 755900
  Fairbanks, AK  United States  99775-5900

  Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

  Research, Development and Technology Transfer, 2301 Peger Road
  Fairbanks, AK  United States  99709-5399

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Hulsey, J L
  • Wardell, Ty
  • Brandon, Patrick
• Publication Date: 2012-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report (Part 1)
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 24p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Costs; Durability tests; Laboratory tests; Life cycle analysis; Materials selection; Rehabilitation (Maintenance)
• Geographic Terms: Alaska; Yukon River
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Materials; I53: Construction of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01487056
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-AK-RD-12-21, INE/AUTC 12.24
• Contract Numbers: AUTC #410008; DTRT06-G-0011; T2-10-07
• Files: UTC, TRIS, RITA, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 11 2013 10:24AM