RESEARCH OF BRIDGE DECKING PRODUCTS

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT/PF) is interested in testing an alternate wearing surface for existing bridge decks that are not suitable for asphalt paving. 

DOT/PF is soliciting manufacturers/suppliers or other technologies that can meet the necessary criteria for the alternate wearing surface.

Alternative wearing surfaces may be a poured-in-place system or a manufactured system installed in panels, or a combination thereof. 

Alternative wearing surfaces must demonstrate favorable performance in each of the following criteria:

• · LIFE CYCLE COST ANALYSIS: Life cycle costs of the alternative wearing surface systems will be analyzed and compared to other tested wearing surfaces and traditional systems.

• · LABORATORY TESTS: Favorable products will then be tested in the University of Alaska at Fairbanks (UAF) laboratory under direction of Dr. Leroy Hulsey. Lab tests will require;

1. Three samples that are 24” by 18” by 2” to be evaluated for: abrasion resistance, durability and traction for dry, wet and icy exposures.
2. Three samples that are 3” by 24” by 2” for cold flexural strain performance at -50 degrees F (four point bending test).

UAF will work with manufacturers/suppliers to improve product performance as deemed necessary for success.

Alternatively, the test laboratory may be able to fabricate test panels for the laboratory portion of this study.

• · FIELD TESTS: Products will be selected for field testing under this solicitation. Field testing will consist of installing test panels on the Yukon River Bridge. Each product test section will be made up of panels that total approximately 30 ft. wide by 8 ft. long. The method of installation will be product specific, however, it should be assumed the panels will be installed directly over the timber bridge decking and will match up with the adjacent timber running planks.

   

  Test sections will be evaluated for a period of approximately 18 months. At the end of the evaluation period, a report will be written describing the suitability of each product with a recommendation to the AKDOT&PF as to which products should be considered acceptable for use.

   

  Favorable performance will be determined by relative comparison of each of the tested wearing surfaces within each of the above criteria. A selection will then be made as to which products or technologies will be considered for full scale useimplementation on this bridge and other bridgesas an alternative wearing surface.

   

   

  IMPLEMENTATION OF ALTERNATIVE WEARING SURFACE: AKDOT&PF may issue a bid request for a full or partial replacement of the existing wearing surface on the Yukon River Bridge in approximately year 2015-2016. R eplacement of the wearing surface of the Yukon River Bridge is approximately 68,880 sq. ft. Alternative wearing surfaces will be considered for use based on the results of the criteria set forth in this research.

   

  TESTING MATERIAL SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS:

  The Department will pay for all costs associated with the following:

• Laboratory testing;
• Reporting laboratory testing performance and field testing performance;
• Shipping of the field test materials to Fairbanks, AK.
• Transportation of the field test materials to the Yukon River Bridge site;
• Installation of the field test materials, including the purchase of all incidental construction materials required for field test installation.

   

  Materials for laboratory testing and field testing will be supplied by the manufacturer/supplier at no cost to the Department. Delivery of the laboratory test specimens will be supplied by the manufacturer/supplier at no cost to the Department.

   

  Potential manufacturer/suppliers must indicate their interest by no later than April 1, 2013. Failure to indicate interest by this date shall preclude suppliers from consideration as a supplier until the next testing period.

   

  Initial submittal of interest should contain at least the following:

• Detailed product description and technical information;
• Description of past projects where the product has been successful in similar applications;
• Description of material installation process;
• Estimate of material and installation costs;
• Contact information for supplier representative.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

General questions regarding this solicitation and detailed shipping instructions should be directed to the following:

Loren Gehring (907) 465-6938  or George Imbsen (907) 465-8894 -General

Eric Johnson, (907) 451-5102 –Shipping

Dr. Leroy Hulsey (907) 451-5102- Laboratory and Field Testing

Questions on drawings for wearing  surface replacement options on the Yukon River Bridge, As-built drawings and other technical questions should be directed to the following:

George Imbsen 907-465-8894 or Loren Gehring 907-465-6938.