Description: ADD-ON SITE: - ASHE COUNTY Location: Ashe County.
Item(s) of Interest: 3-span steel girder bridge over a stream and a 2-lane road. The bridge had some deck cracking, which was attributed to an error in the pour sequencing. The cracks were repaired with methyl-methacrylate. Steep driveway at the end of the bridge required guardrail to be shop curved on a very tight radius. In addition, the site had a soil-nail wall with a concrete facing, which was protected with a precast New Jersey barrier rail. The concrete facing and barrier rail had an architectural coating finish.
Observations and Points of Discussion:
Observed cracks in the facing were located at the expansion joints because the architectural finish coating was applied over the joints.
Some discussion on whether the concrete barrier rail protecting the retaining wall facing could be either integrated into the concrete facing or be elimninated. It was also noted that:
Protecting areas where the facing begins and ends are of most concern.
A vertical concrete barrier offers comparable protection to a slope-faced barrier.
Integrating the barrier rail, vertical or sloped into the concrete facing is feasible.
Deck cracking:
A correct pour sequence is very effective in mitigating deck cracking.
Contractors should consider the viscosity of gravity flow crack repair products.
NC DOT
NC DOH
NC GOV
