Ocean City Long Port Bridge

PROBLEM:

In the late summer of 2002 Surtreat Northeast was asked by Tom Fisher, senior vice president of Parsons Brinckerhoff, to examine the Ocean City Longport Bridge located in the Cape May County of New Jersey. The reason for the examination was the visual display of micro cracking on the entire length of the bridge deck. This is a bridge that is less than one year old and has only been open since last July. Petrographical testing was done to try and to determine the cause of the micro-cracking. The results showed the proper water to cement ratio and were inconclusive as to the reason for the micro-cracking. Surtreat Northeast was asked to do a survey of the bridge and to give a proposal for reducing the porosity of the bridge deck. Surtreat representative Gil Gillespie went to the bridge and made a presentation that was submitted to Tom Fisher and Cape May County Chief Engineer, Dale Foster.

Surtreat Northeast was asked to provide a turnkey solution that would reduce the porosity of the bridge deck. Secondary benefits of the Surtreat Chemical formulations will increase the compressive strength and inhibit corrosion throughout the entire bridge deck. Surtreat Northeast supplied a certified application of Surtreat formulations on April 29th and 30th 2003.

ABOVE: The Micro-cracking that is throughout the bridge deck

SOLUTION:

Surtreat’s TPS “Total Performance System™” formulations chemically react with concrete and reinforcing steel to arrest and prevent deterioration and corrosion on multiple of fronts.

Surtreat TPS formulations act on many more fronts than sealers and coatings. While acting as excellent initial protection, sealers and coatings can provide little if any protection once deterioration has begun. Surtreat TPS formulations are able to migrate through the pore structure within concrete and chemically react to become a part of the structure.

OUR PROCESS:

The scope of work called for applicators to clean the concrete surfaces. The cleaning process included using high-pressure power washers to remove the dirt, chlorides, grime and any other surface debris. Due to site location there is a high amount of chloride activity taking place on this bridge. Once the bridge was clean, the application of Surtreat formulations commenced.

With the use of a 300 gallon tank, a mechanical sprayer and a Tenant 7400 Scrubber we applied the TPS II. TPS II is a Liquid phase migratory corrosion inhibitor that will migrate through the concrete pores and cracks to the reinforcing steel. Once it reaches the steel, it will establish a protective or passivating film, on the steel’s surface. TPS II will substantially reduce the porosity of the smaller pores typically 2 to 3 inches below the surface. After allowing TPS II to sufficiently penetrate we then applied TPS IV.

CONCLUSION:

The SURTREAT Total Performance System is an inorganic, chemically reactive, penetrating system that will protect the concrete bridge deck from exposure to contaminants that otherwise would have deteriorated the bridge over time. Major benefits that will occur to the bridge deck are the reduction of porosity and the increase in compressive strength. All of these benefits work in concert to protect and prevent damage to the bridge deck. Visual and physical testing inspections will be conducted periodically to ensure maximum performance.

ABOVE: Application of the Surtreat TPS system on the bridge using spray application methods.