Cintec's Archtec Reinforcing Anchor System Protects Bridge from Collapse in Massive Flood
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CINTEC America Inc. of Baltimore, Maryland, a world leader in the field of structural masonry retrofit strengthening, repair, and preservation, announced that its Archtec reinforcing anchor system succeeded in preventing the collapse of the Pont Telpyn Bridge during recent unprecedented flooding in the United Kingdom. Cintec has strengthened more than 300 bridges around the world using the Archtec system, including the Wisconsin Avenue Bridge in Washington, D.C.
The bridge, located in Wales, had originally been scheduled for strengthening in 2006, but torrential floods damaged the bridge before completion. Since then, the bridge was totally repaired using the Archtec system, and construction was completed in October 2009.
"The bridge renovation worked perfectly and the structure easily withstood massive floods this past November," said Robert Lloyd-Rees, FFB, chief operating officer for CINTEC America. He added, "We are extremely proud that the Pont Telpyn Bridge, which was nearly destroyed during the initial project, went on to be completed and managed to endure some of the worst flooding ever seen." By contrast, the floods swept away numerous similar bridges in northern England, causing chaos and cutting off entire communities for days.
The Archtec system is a complete diagnostic, design, and installation service that uses state of the art technology and drilling methods specially designed to strengthen masonry arch bridges. A steel bar enclosed in a mesh fabric sleeve is inserted into the arch barrel of the bridge, into which a specially developed grout is injected under low pressure. The flexible sleeve of woven polyester restrains the grout flow and expands in diameter, molding to provide a strong mechanical bond.
The system causes no impact to the natural environment, and no significant change to the appearance of the bridges, preserving their historical features. It causes little or no traffic delays, and saves energy compared to other construction methods. The Archtec method also reduces the amount of steel used by 92 percent and the amount of cement used by 88 percent.
About CINTEC
CINTEC America is a world leader in the field of structural masonry retrofit strengthening, repair, and preservation. CINTEC America of Baltimore, MD, has associated offices in Newport, Wales, UK; Newcastle, Australia; Ottawa, Canada and in India.
The principal activity of the company is the design and manufacture of the CINTEC Reinforcing Anchor System, a micro cement anchoring and reinforcing technique. CINTEC offers complete structural analysis and design services, turn-key solutions, as well as masonry repair and reinforcement anchors used for blast protection, seismic reinforcement, historic preservation and overall building strengthening.
CINTEC has been the recipient of several awards, including the 2002 Queen's Award for Enterprise in Innovation and received two U.K. Historic Bridge Awards and an Engineering Excellence Award from The Institution of Engineers, Australia in 2001.
For more information, call 1-800-363-6066; fax: 1 800.461.1862; e-mail: solutions@cintec.com or visit www.cintec.com.
