Description: R-2539A - CRAVEN-PAMLICO COUNTY Location: Bridge #65 on NC 55 over Upper Broad Creek
Item(s) of Interest
12-span link slab bridge, first visited during the 2005 Spring Field Review.
This link-slab bridge consists of deck slabs made continuous at the bents, coupled with debonding the slab from the girder for a few feet at joint locations.
It is sometimes used in lieu of continuous for live load structures.
Joints in the deck at the link slab consist of saw cuts filled with silicone.
The structure has been under traffic for nearly 2 years.
The structure features a fairly severe skew, as the skew was based on the flood flow direction rather than the normal water flow direction.
Observations and Points of Discussion:
The link slab bridge deck looked very good with only minor cracking parallel to the link slab.
The Construction Unit reported that link slabs are somewhat easier to construct than continuous for live load diaphragms.
FHWA encouraged the Department to consider link slabs on future projects.
Link slabs appear to be appropriate for routine use on bridges with a limited skew and span range (e.g. spans for Type II and III concrete girders).
ACTION ITEM(S):
Structure Design will develop a policy for using link slabs.
NC DOT
NC DOH
NC GOV
