DOTs on Maintaining Corroded Connections: Cleaning, Caulking & Cost

From JPCL, January 2019

By Tom Inglis and Nick Volk, IDOT District 4; Dan Brydl, FHWA-Illinois Division; and Ken Trimber, KTA-Tator, Inc.

Because of the intricate design of the Shade-Lohmann Bridge bridge, Illinois Department of Transportation District 4 decided that connections should be caulked to provide additional protection. After hearing about both successes and failures when caulking was used, IDOT wanted to better understand the use of caulking and develop plan notes or special provisions to clearly delineate the expectations. This article provides specification language provided by various DOTs, summarizes the variety of approaches that are taken, and presents the process followed by IDOT for the Shade-Lohmann Bridge. ...