A lightweight SPS bridge deck was a key component in a project to rehabilitate the historic Water Street Bridge in St Mary’s, Canada. This 103ft long by 16ft wide bridge, originally built by the Stratford Bridge Company for $2,000 had been closed for two years due to safety concerns. The bridge’s original deck was wooden with an asphalt wearing surface and a five ton load limit. Winter salting had promoted corrosion of the steel super-structure and led to closure.
SPS for Bridge Construction
The project encompassed:
- replacing the floor beams,
- repair and painting of the super-structure,
- new stringer installation with predrilled holes to faciliate rapid SPS deck installation.
A total of nine SPS bridge deck panels (8-25-8) arrived on the back of a single truck and were located in just one day using a small crane. The SPS panels were hand welded which took just two days.
SPS Technology has considerable experience renovating ageing bridges around the world such as Roseville, Ohio Bridge (and Roseville Ohio Bridge video) and including pedestrian footbridges such as Colman Docks Footbridge in Seattle. The SPS Technology Bridges page has more information.
SPS bridge decks are up to 70% lighter than concrete and are fully compatible with existing bridge components and wearing surfaces, making them ideal for bridge renovation projects. Standard design procedures to upgrade a bridge are used to tailor the geometry and performance of each SPS bridge deck as a full replacement for old cracked concrete or open-grid decking for bascule and lift bridges, lowering stresses in the existing structural frames.
Reduction in deck dead load for deficient bridges assists with:
- life extension;
- elimination of traffic load restrictions;
- increased load capacity;
- minimising, or eliminating the need for reinforcement.
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