James River Bridge Beam Repair Demonstrates Benefits of CFRP Wraps

Extending the service life of deteriorating concrete structures is a pressing concern for many DOTs and municipalities. Decades old concrete bridges are showing their age across North America in coastal regions and over waterways where decay from corroding steel reinforcement is an issue for governmental transportation officials. While some bridges are beyond help, others can be saved. Repairing rather than replacing a bridge can significantly extend the life of the structure and save millions of taxpayer dollars and months of traffic disruptions.

Such was the case with the James River Bridge in Virginia. Structural engineering firm Moffatt & Nichol and primary contractor Freyssinet teamed up to strengthen 29 deteriorating beams for the James River Bridge under the Virginia Department of Transportation.

The repair team repaired and strengthened the beams using self-consolidating concrete and surface-mounted CFRP and epoxy. Layers of lightweight, high-strength CFRP, attached with a U-wrap configuration, saved time and money, enabling the project to be completed five months ahead of schedule without any traffic disruptions.

The project was so successful that the ACI Virginia Chapter submitted it for an Excellence in Concrete Construction Award.