Project Location: Thelwall Viaduct, Cheshire

Posted on in the category Concrete Repair, Civil Engineering & Infrastructure.

Reinstatement of Concrete Cover & Chloride Protection for Motorway Bridge

Reinstatement of Concrete Cover & Chloride Protection on Bridge Deck

Background

Flexcrete has been closely associated with the various phases of repair works on the original structure which carries the M6 Motorway over the Manchester Ship Canal.

Having supplied all the repair materials for the 1987 refurbishment, Flexcrete was again consulted with regard to low concrete cover and chloride protection issues in 1996.

The Solution

Cementitious Coating 851 was initially considered as a remedial treatment to overcome the problem of inadequate cover, although its ability to act as a complete barrier to chlorides was also seen as attractive to the Client who assessed 851 for upgrading the newly cast verges. With just 2mm of this polymer modified coating directly on to the saturated concrete, the equivalent of an additional 100mm of cover is conferred (based on an extrapolation of the oxygen diffusion characteristics of 851). The material is easy to apply in a single coat, curing to form a tough surface over which road surfacing can be installed. 851 carries certification from BBA as part of the Flexcrete repair and protection system.

Client

Cheshire County Council

Contractor

Amec Civil Engineering