Composite Advantage Completes Installation of Fiberspan Bridge Desk as Part of Anacostia Waterfront Initiative
Share:
DAYTON, Ohio - Composite Advantage LLC (CA) has completed installation of a FiberSPAN(TM) Fiber Reinforced Polymer pedestrian and bicycle bridge deck designed and built as part of the District of Columbia's Anacostia Riverwalk Trail project. The new 3 ½-in.-thick, 7-span-wide bridge deck is the manufacturer's largest project to date and represents one of the largest composite pedestrian bridge decks in the world. Part of the Anacostia Waterfront initiative, a $10 billion investment to restore and revitalize the Anacostia River and its surrounding parks and neighborhoods, the bridge was constructed using 88 composite panels and is 685 ft. long and 16 ft. wide spanning a road and active railroad tracks.
The deck was manufactured with CA's innovative sandwich construction which employs fiberglass top and bottom skins and closely-spaced internal webs that function like a series of I-beams. CA molded and manufactured both straight and curved panels to accommodate the customer's specifications for a bridge deck with an S-curve that could safely transition pedestrian traffic over the road and railroad tracks. The panels were molded with a beige pigment to meet aesthetic requirements for the national park. As part of CA's prefabrication capability the panels were delivered with a beige, non-slip wear surface. The non-slip wear surface is a standard feature with CA's bridge deck products.
CA helped reduce on-site construction time and costs by delivering deck panels with prefabricated features such as curbs able to accommodate hand rails and light posts. The manufacturer built drainage scuppers into the deck panels as well as electrical junction boxes to support the lighting system. The panels were connected to steel beams using clips bolted to the bottom of the decking. Six spans were placed on steel beams with a middle span attached to an enclosed steel truss to clear the railroad tracks. Weighing 1250 lbs. each, the 8 ft.-long panels took just 3 days to install.
CA is a leading manufacturer of very large fiber reinforced composite parts, up to 52 feet, for structurally demanding applications and corrosive environments. Composite Advantage has developed ground-breaking processing techniques and combined them with efficient manufacturing processes to give customers products that solve technical challenges. The advanced materials company primarily serves the infrastructure and construction industries, fabricating large, complex parts that incorporate the finishing and assembly details customers need to reduce installation costs. Composite Advantage products range from vehicle and pedestrian bridges, waterfront infrastructure, and rail station platforms to high performance pads and mats.
For more information about Composite Advantage visit: www.compositeadvantage.com
Media Contact:
Ms. Lynn Stanley
(937) 912-5158
FAX (937) 912-9267
Email: stanleymedia@tx.rr.com
