Axion International Holdings has secured a purchase order for its new recycled structural composite (RSC) material from the town of York in Maine, through Innovative Green Solutions (IGS). This material will be utilized for the plastic bridge construction. This plastic bridge is the first recycled vehicular bridge in Maine and will also be the first used in the U.S. public highway applications.
The length and breadth of the bridge will be around 26 x 15 ft respectively and will be used for substituting a current concrete box culvert. The bridge’s design has been made to meet the specifications of LRFD and AASHTO for the HL-93 vehicular load. It will include an abutment wingwalls and headwalls and curbing of a single span. The bridge deck will be enclosed with gravel and given asphalt pavement surfacing, after the final installation.
The CEO and President of Axion, Steve Silverman has commented that the company is excited to be included in this bridge project in Maine. The connection between Axion and the town of York will build this first recycled plastic vehicular bridge at the public highway system of the US.
The location of this bridge is near the past York River and on a town road towards the York Harbor’s western part. The town of York commissioned this bridge, which was designed and assessed by CLD Consulting Engineers and Parsons Brinckerhoff. Maritime Construction and Engineering will build this bridge. The manufacturing and prefabrication of the bridge will be done at the Axion’s plant in Pennsylvania and the bridge will be transported to Maine through a flatbed truck prior to the installation. Due to the bridge prefabrication, it can be assembled onsite easily. It has been scheduled to manufacture and install the bridge before the 2011 winter season begins at Maine.
Public Works Director of the town of York, Dean Lessard suggested thermoplastic because of its timber like structure and the ecological records of the product along with the strength and least maintenance necessities. They are expecting to work with Maritime Construction, Axion, IGS, Parsons Brinckerhoff and CLD on this thermoplastic project.
Source: http://www.axionintl.com/