Jointless Bridges and Bridge Deck Joints in Washington State

Abstract

Highlights of a 1997 Quality Improvement Review (QIR) of jointless bridges and bridge deck joints in Washington State are summarized. The purpose of the QIR is to determine, assess, and disseminate the current state of the practice and to share this information with the other FHWA Region 10 states and other FHWA regions. The inspection team included personnel from FHWA, the Oregon Department of Transportation, and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). Interviews were conducted with design, construction, inspection, and maintenance personnel. During the QIR, 18 WSDOT bridges were inspected in the field to gauge the performance of jointless bridges and bridge deck joints. Background information on jointless bridges is given, and current practices involving bridge deck joints are presented. The use of jointless bridges eliminates the need for expansion joints and joint maintenance. The QIR found that WSDOT’s semi-integral jointless bridges, with overall lengths of 122 m and skews less than 30 degrees, performed well. Approach slabs are recommended for jointless bridges to minimize the effects of approach settlement. Quality improvement recommendations are presented in the review. WSDOT has developed a new saw-cutting procedure for compression seals, as well as a specification for a second-generation, fatigue-based, modular bridge-expansion joint to improve long-term durability.