HIGH-PERFORMANCE CONCRETE FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF WACKER DRIVE

The existing viaduct structure on Wacker Drive in downtown Chicago, Illinois, is being replaced due to severe corrosion of the embedded reinforcing steel and spalling of the concrete cover. A new structure is being built using high-performance concrete (HPC). The deck is posttensioned HPC concrete, with a latex-modified concrete overlay placed over the deck to provide the wearing surface and further protection of the embedded steel in the HPC deck. A prototype of the structure was built and load tested to failure. This paper discusses the development of the HPC, and the importance of screening raw materials, testing of HPC mixes, and the implementation of a quality assurance program.