Antietam Creek Bridge, MD

For over 60 years, Solite^® and Kenlite^® have been performing in the demanding environment of bridges for State DOT’s and transportation authorities. Utilized beyond the original lifespan and carrying capacities envisioned by their designers, these structures stand as testimony to the many inherent benefits of Solite^®and Kenlite^® lightweight concrete.

Due to its inherent weight savings, Solite^® or Kenlite^® lightweight aggregate concrete is particularly adept for rehabilitation and widening projects which increase the carrying capacity of the bridge. The Millard E. Tydings Memorial Bridge carrying I-95 over the Susquehanna River in Maryland is a prime example. This high level structure was rehabilitated and widened from four travel lanes to six and the median and edge barriers were improved without extensive substructure modification. Millions of dollars and over a year of time were saved.

Initially chosen and installed for weight savings, the durability and performance of Solite^® or Kenlite^® lightweight concrete has been recognized by owners over the years for it’s inherent physical traits making it superior in many cases to regular concrete for bridges. Elastic matching and internal curing are the primary causes of its superior and long lasting performance. Solite^® and Kenlite^® lightweight concrete are sought for the rapidly growing precast bridge deck replacement market and long span girders. Performance, reduced delivery and installation costs make them attractive choices. These traits were key considerations for the Brooklyn Bridge when its deck was replaced using a metal grid system filled with Solite^® lightweight concrete.

One of the keys to Solite^® and Kenlite^® concrete’s successes in bridge application is its contribution to "internal curing”. Particularly important in bridge concretes due to low water cement ratios, Solite^®'s and Kenlite^®'s internal moistures release into the fresh concrete as it is curing to assist cement hydration thereby reducing shrinking and micro cracking. This results in lower concrete permeability and ultimately greater performance. (See our section on Internal Curing)