CONCRETE RESURFACING OVERLAYS FOR TWO BRIDGE DECKS

TWO AASHO H-20 HIGHWAY BRIDGES IN THE TEXAS HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT SYSTEM HAVE RECEIVED EXPERIMENTAL RESURFACING OVERLAYS OF PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE. THIS PAPER DESCRIBES THE OVERLAY OPERATIONS, PERFORMANCE, AND COSTS OF THE TWO INSTALLATIONS. ONE DECK, COLORADO RIVER BRIDGE, WAS ON A TWO-LANE BRIDGE WITH A 28 FT ROADWAY 480 FT LONG (13,440 SQ FT). THE OTHER, BOSQUE RIVER BRIDGE, WAS A TWO-LANE BRIDGE WITH A SIDEWALK. IT WAS 400 FT LONG AND HAD A TOTAL SURFACE AREA OF 16,000 SQ FT. ONE OVERLAY WAS 1 5/8 IN. THICK AND THE OTHER WAS 2 IN. THICK. BOTH WERE BONDED WITH PORTLAND CEMENT GROUT. INSPECTIONS, AFTER OPENING TO TRAFFIC, REVEAL REFLECTIVE CRACKING AND SOME UNBONDING, BUT THE PERFORMANCE IS GENERALLY GOOD.