Spot Painting for Bridge Preservation

This article reports on a s study conducted by the University of Kentucky on spot painting and treatments for deterioration caused by leaking joints and deicing salts. Spot painting is increasingly being seen as one maintenance method to service problems in particular bridge locations with minimal service disruption and environmental impact. In the study, coatings and coverings for structural steel and concrete bridge elements were assessed.Field application tests of steel coatings and concrete coatings were conducted at the Interstate 75/Interstate 64 overpass of U.S. 68 near Lexington, Kentucky. Additional testing of concrete coating systems was performed in the laboratory, and the performance for all of the coating systems are presented in the article. The authors suggest that bridge service life can be extended with the use of localized repair strategies, which can protect the substrate.