On the surface, the span looks like any of the thousands of small, narrow two-lane bridges across America. This new, high-tech bridge in Morgan County, Tennessee uses G/flex® Epoxy in a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite material deck embedded with fiber optic sensors. It replaced a damaged, decades-old concrete crossing which, like thousands of low-volume bridges across the nation, was structurally deficient and outdated.
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, about 8 percent of the more than 617,000 crossings in the U.S. are structurally deficient and need repair. FRP composites offer a low-cost, low-maintenance option. The new structure in Tennessee demonstrates the benefits of composite materials for bridgework.
Due to the use of technologically advanced materials, including G/flex, the bridge deck system requires less installation time, conserves energy and construction costs, and has a 100-year lifespan.
"This composite bridge has already made a positive impact on Morgan County," said Highway Superintendent Joe Miller, who added that local officials were looking for a low-maintenance crossing that could be installed fast and at a lower cost than a traditionally built span. "We have numerous bridges within the county and hundreds across the state that are in need of repair and could benefit from this technology."
This story is from the Winter 2023 edition of Sailing World.
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This story is from the Winter 2023 edition of Sailing World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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