ChemCo Systems Epoxy Asphalt Placed on the San Francisco–Oakland Self-Anchored Suspension (SAS) Bay Bridge
San Francisco CA (PRWEB) August 01, 2013 -- In July, ChemCo Systems supplied Epoxy Asphalt for paving of the new East Span of the San Francisco—Oakland Bay Bridge. The $6.4 billion bridge is scheduled to open to traffic later this year and immediately receive a daily average traffic volume of 280,000 vehicles. The traffic count will establish the new bridge as the busiest in the world (for 10 lanes).
The new bridge utilizes a unique design which represents the largest of its type in the world.
The new bridge replaces a 1930’s era truss bridge (East Span) which is unable to meet current seismic performance requirements. The existing bridge uses an earlier generation of Epoxy Asphalt in a ¾” overlay that has lasted 37 years and approximately 3 billion vehicle crossings.
The current project features 4,400 metric tons (4900 US tons) of Epoxy Asphalt installed on the 16,680 sq meter (180,120 square foot) steel deck in two 1 inch thick layers. The paving project took approximately 2 weeks to complete and includes 10 lanes and 4 shoulders.
ChemCo Systems Epoxy Asphalt is specially designed for the long span bridges which use orthotropic steel decks to minimize weight. Epoxy Asphalt is a highly durable road surface that handles high traffic loads with a long useful surface operating life and outstanding fatigue performance. The new bridge has a design life of 150 years and the epoxy asphalt pavement is projected to last 25 to 40 years, much longer than alternative driving surfaces.
ChemCo Systems Epoxy Asphalt features an epoxy asphalt tack oil to enable excellent adhesion between the steel bridge deck and the epoxy asphalt concrete. A second epoxy system is mixed with a specially selected aggregate to produce the final driving surface of the bridge. Unlike regular asphalts, Epoxy Asphalt does not melt.
ChemCo Systems manufactures Epoxy Asphalt in California. It is frequently exported for use on long span bridges internationally, especially in China. ChemCo Systems is based in Redwood City, CA.
John Bors, ChemCo Systems, http://www.chemcosystems.com, +1 650-261-3790, [email protected]
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