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Durable Link Slab for Jointless Bridge Decks
Based on Strain-Hardening Cementitious Composites
Construction Timeline

In cooperation with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), HNTB Engineering Consultants, Midwest Bridge Contractors, and Clawson Concrete Company, construction of a demonstration ECC link slab began in July, 2005. The southeastern Michigan project site is Grove Street over Interstate 94 (S02 of 81063) in Ypsilanti, approximatly 45 minutes outside of Detroit, Michigan. The bridge was reconstructed in two halves, with Phase 1 completed in late September. Through the cooperation of state transportation officials, industry consulting engineers and contractors, and ACE-MRL research personnel, this first infrastructure demonstration project of ECC material in the US was completed on October 30, 2005.

Date
Activity
Photos

October 30 - Phase 2

Opened Grove Street bridge to traffic

Open traffic

ECC link slab in use

Completed Grove Street over I-94

Completed ECC link slab

Repaired pier under link slab


October 29 - Phase 2

Completing hot mix asphalt (HMA) approach sidewalks and general site cleanup

Spreading HMA

Completed HMA approach sidewalk


October 29 - Phase 2

Load testing

Loading individual spans

Loading both adjacent spans


October 16 - October 28
Phase 2

Formed and placed concrete sidewalk, concrete barrier wall, metal hand railings, and bridge approach slabs

Concrete sidewalk formwork

Concrete barrier formwork

Completed bridge end approach

Preparing for bridge end approach

Concrete barrier formwork

Assembling metal handrails


October 15 - Phase 2

Pouring of ECC Link Slab

Material testing and certification

Discharge of ECC from truck

Screeding ECC surface

Tyning driving surface

Cast ECC link slab

Delivery of ECC Material

Flowable ECC Material

Steel troweling ECC surface

Tyned ECC/Concrete Interface

Applying curing compound


September 23 – October 14
Phase 2

Completed demolition, stay-in-place formwork, installation of concrete deck reinforcing steel bars, and preparation of link slab formwork.

Conventional expansion joint

Placing reinforcing steel

Link slab transition zone

Stay-in-place formwork

Link slab location with rebar

Nearly complete reinforcing steel


September 23 - Phase 1

Opened new portion of Grove Street bridge to traffic and closed remaining old portion for rehabilitation

Completed ECC Link Slab

Completed ECC Link Slab


September 19 - Phase 1

Load testing

Loading individual spans

Wireless data collection

Side by side loading

ACE-MRL Researchers


September 13 - September 20, Phase 1

Formed and placed concrete sidewalk, concrete barrier wall, metal hand railings, and bridge approach slabs

Sidewalk forming

Concrete barrier wall forming

Sidewalk reinforcing bars


September10
Phase 1
Pouring of ECC link slab.

Prepared Link Slab

Placement of ECC

Placement of ECC

Screeding of Link Slab

Arrival of Concrete Trucks

Placement of ECC

Self-Consolidating ECC

Finished Link Slab


August 25 - September 6
Phase 1

Completed stay-in-place formwork, installation of concrete deck reinforcing steel bars, and preparation of link slab formwork.

Completed Formwork

Installation of Rebar

Completion of Rebar

Installation of Rebar

Link Slab Preparation

Link Slab Preparation


August 4 - August 25
Phase 1

Cleaning of steel girders, removal of old shear connectors, installation of stay-in-place formwork, and installation of new shear connectors.

Cleaned Girders

Girder Preparation

New Shear Connectors

Link Slab Location

Stay-in-Place Formwork

Sandblasting Girders


August 2
Phase 1

Completion of concrete deck demolition and preparation of exisiting steel girders.

Completion of Demolition

Removal of Shear Studs

Completion of Demolition

Steel Girders


July 28 - August 1
Phase 1

Night demolition of concrete bridge deck.

Night Demolition

Night Demolition


July 26
Phase 1

Removal of temporary bituminous asphalt riding surface on bridge deck.

Removal of Asphalt Surface

Removal of Asphalt Surface


July 23

ECC trial mixing at Clawson Concrete.

Concrete Truck Mixing

Discharging ECC from Truck

Self-Consolidating ECC

Screeding of ECC


July 5

Grove Street bridge before any construction activity.

Grove Street Before

Grove Street Over I-94

Joints Before Link Slab

Bridge Pier Under Link Slab