National Concrete Pavement Technology Center

Project description

Bridge decks are the first major bridge component typically requiring major repair or complete replacement. In the early 2000s, a new class of cement-based material, known as ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC), became available. UHPC is nearly impenetrable and has many other high-quality attributes. Unfortunately, the cost of UHPC remains high and strategic use is required. A bridge will soon be constructed that has a deck comprised of traditional concrete plus a UHPC course on top. This configuration is hoped to provide a cost-effective and long-life bridge deck. This first-in-the-US project needs to be monitored during construction and for a period post-construction to document its performance and lessons learned.