Axim Admixtures Used in Bascule Bridge

Project:
Maple-Oregon Bridge

Location:
Sturgeon Bay, WI, U.S.A.

Owner:
Wisconsin DOT

Cost:  
$30 Million

Length:  
1,057 ft

Designer/Engineer:
Teng & Associates,  GNP Consulting Inc. &  Bloom Consultants LLC

General Contractor: 
Lunda Construction Co. & PDM Bridge LLC

Concrete Supplier: 
Premier Concrete Inc.

Products: 
CATEXOL A.E. 260
CATEXOL 2000 Ni
CATEXOL 1000 SP-MN
CATEXOL SF-D, Micro Silica

Situation:
The original historic Michigan Street Bridge in Sturgeon Bay was built in 1930. It has been described as one of the busiest bridges in the state for the number of daily bridge openings. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) maintained this bridge since 1930. In 1995, WisDOT officials met with the city of Sturgeon Bay to present the department's position on a proposed replacement of the aging bridge. It took 10 years of planning to develop a plan of action to replace the bridge.

Challenge:
In summer 2005, the Governor announced that the state would fund and maintain ownership of a new bridge crossing Sturgeon Bay. The law further directed WisDOT to begin construction within one year of the signing of the budget bill (July 25, 2005). This time table had to contend with the fact that in Sturgeon Bay, two to three feet of ice forms on the surface in the winter, stopping most construction. Also, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) prohibits water construction from March 1 to June 30 during the fish-spawning season. 

Solution
The 1,420-foot bridge is comprised of a rolling-lift steel and concrete bascule "movable" span and 12 concrete and steel truss approach spans. The engineer and contractor worked closely with Premier Concrete and Axim Italcementi Group to develop concrete mixes that met the multiple and complex needs for this bridge design.

The most intricate was a lightweight concrete mix that was used in the decking of the moving bascules. Traditionally, decking in these types of bridges are made of steel. However, the engineer specified concrete for its durability and reduced maintenance costs. Axim provided CATEXOL 1000 SP-MN high-range water reducer and CATEXOL SF-D silica fume for this application to increase the concrete's strength and density, while still managing to produce a light-weight product.