About This Project

In September and October of 2010, Island Pavement Cutting Co., Inc. installed approximately 9,200 square feet of (BDM) bridge deck waterproofing membrane and custom Articulus Expansion Joints on two bridges one quarter mile apart in Middletown, PA. The project consisted of replacing two historical bridges constructed in 1903 and 1904 by the Pennsylvania Railroad to eliminate grade crossings at Union Street and Wood Street.

The two bridges would be replaced during a planned 55 hour shutdown. Because of the limited window, much of the bridge deck waterproofing membrane installation was performed at an offsite assembly yard prior to the shutdown. At 4:00 AM on October 1, 2010 demolition of the existing bridges began. By Sunday afternoon the new bridges were positioned and Island Pavement Cutting Co., Inc. began installation of the expansion joints and bridge deck waterproofing membrane tie-ins.

One of the unique challenges of these bridges were the sharply skewed piers, which required the expansion joints to be custom fit. Bridge Preservation was able to manufacture custom expansion joints to perfectly fit the various angles present on the bridges. The challenges continued Sunday night and Monday morning when it began to rain. Island Pavement Cutting was forced to erect tents over the bridges so that the bridge deck waterproofing membrane installation could continue. However, despite the challenges, the bridge deck waterproofing membrane installation was successful and the tracks were re-opened at 8:00 PM on October 4th.