Interstate 44 in northwest Oklahoma City is narrowed for bridge repairs
Oklahoma Department of Transportation workers and vehicle are shown in the far left eastbound lane of Interstate 44 on the Belle Isle bridge where it crosses over the Northwest Expressway in Oklahoma City on Monday. Two eastbound lanes were closed when an expansion joint, shown just right of the center in the photo, failed, causing damage to vehicles traveling on the highway. Photo by Paul B. Southerland, The Oklahoman PAUL B. SOUTHERLANDOklahoma Department of Transportation officials estimate the closure could last until late afternoon but think the lanes will reopen before evening rush hour. Drivers should expect long delays and are encouraged to find an alternate route.
The heat and the aging interstate were blamed for the buckling of a steel expansion joint, which damaged several vehicles before two lanes of the interstate were closed Monday morning by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol . Parts of the joint have risen above the buckled concrete.
“We really want to caution people who are driving this morning, especially people who are on motorcycles,” patrol spokeswoman Betsy Randolph said earlier. The extreme heat could cause asphalt to buckle across central Oklahoma , Randolph said.
Motorists along I-44 eastbound between Northwest Expressway and Broadway Extension could be seen pulling off the interstate after hitting the expanded joint on top of the Belle Isle bridge near Classen Boulevard and above Northwest Expressway.
The lanes were closed about 5:45 a.m., the patrol reported. The eastbound I-44 on-ramp from Northwest Expressway was closed about 7:30 a.m.
A trooper was called to a report of debris on the Belle Isle bridge about 5:30 a.m.
The trooper was able to use a flashlight to see that steel parts of the expansion joint had risen in the roadway.
“It's not something we can just do a quick patch on,” Randolph said. “It's going to take a little bit, so we ask for motorists to be patient with us.”
Transportation Department spokeswoman Mills Gotcher said she could not speculate on the cause of the problem, but she said expansion joints often are affected by extreme temperature. About 7:30 a.m., Gotcher said workers attributed the problem to the age of the bridge and not the extreme heat alone. The bridge was built in 1975.
Concrete Expansion Joint - News
Expansion joints are found on many bridges, and help absorb the pressure of concrete expanding or contracting due to temperature changes or movement because of other factors, such as earthquakes. Before expansion joint gaps were built into bridges,
An expansion joint that damaged vehicles early Monday needs to be repaired, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports. BY ROBERT MEDLEY rmedley@opubco.com Leave a comment Eastbound Interstate 44 between Pennsylvania Avenue and Northwest Expressway remained
White said it is plausible that Spencer streets experience more explosions than rural roads because they contain more expansion joints. He noted that concrete overlays are not used on Spencer streets, but rather Portland Concrete Cement.
Two lanes on the Interstate 44 had to be closed for emergency bridge repairs when a steel expansion joint buckled under the heat. Parts of the joint had risen above the buckled concrete on the Belle Isle bridge and several cars were damaged before
"We went out first thing this morning and cut a six inch piece of concrete that had buckled out and put in asphalt," Kutak said Friday. "There is a temporary expansion joint too so traffic can run over it for the weekend." Repairs are planned for
When Do You Need Concrete Expansion Joint Repair ...
Gaps will be filled with some flexible product, but over time these degrade, making concrete expansion joint repair necessary.
Why Are Expansion Joints Needed?
Slabs of concrete are poured with spaces of 1/2 to 3/4 inch between them for expansion, later filled with an elastomer that can deform, such as wood, rubber, or caulking.
Leaving the gap empty is bad because water can run under the slabs, eroding the soil beneath, leading to stress and cracking of the slab.
If the gap fills with sand or dirt, expansion is compromised because sand also expands with heat, and roots grow and break the surrounding concrete.
How to Know When You Need Concrete Expansion Joint Repair
A careful visual inspection is enough to determine if the joint fillings are worn out and need replacement.
Wood rots; rubber deteriorates; caulking can be worn away or break up as a result of weathering.
If the expansion gaps are not filled with the flexible material, there is a problem that must be corrected.
What Is Involved In Correcting The Situation?
The old elastomer must be removed, and new material inserted in the gap.
A decision must be made as to what type of filler will be used as a replacement.
This sounds simple enough, and many homeowners take on the task themselves, but there are some good reasons why it is preferable to call in a professional for concrete expansion joint repair.
What Are The Choices of Materials?
Several types of products are available for expansion joint replacement:
- wood- cedar or redwood are preferable, not hardwoods such as maple - open cell foam for hot-poured fillers
What Are The Potential Problems?
- Joints must be cleaned thoroughly so that the new backer rod can be installed evenly in the bottom of the gap between the concrete slabs.
- The sealant must be inserted to the proper level so that the crack is filled, but not overfilled, which can leave ridges to trip over.
Concrete expansion joint installation tomorrow on I-95 southbound in Philadelphia.. 
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Construction manual: concrete & formwork
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concrete expansion joints - An isolation joint consisting of 12mm thick bitumen impregnated foam. In this instance it is fixed to the house walls with masonry nails. ...
Concrete Expansion Joint | Sakrete
Concrete Expansion Joint. For use wherever there are expansion joints in concrete: slabs, walks, drives, isolation joints, to limit water penetration ...
Where do I need to use joints?
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Control joints to include expansion joints, saw cuts and other joints in concrete slabs and walls.
pavingexpert - concrete movement joints
A guide to the various types of joints used in concrete slab work ... Expansion joints are usually a complete 'gap' between adjacent bays, ie, there is a definite break in the ...