Installation of Koch bridge joint systems on Board of Affairs Contract Number 100725 (FHWA-OK-92-03)

Abstract

Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) Maintenance and Bridge Engineers have been looking for a satisfactory water tight bridge joint device or system for many years. 27 KOCH Bridge Joint Systems (KOCH BJS) have been installed on an elevated portion of I-40, located in downtown Oklahoma City. The KOCH BJS Units were installed under a bridge joint repair project. All KOCH BJS units replaced other types of "water tight" bridge joint devices which had failed. KOCH Bridge Joint systems are a proprietary product which has been used for 18 years in Europe, but is still relatively unknown in the U.S. KOCH BJS nits carry a two-year warranty covering materials and installation. Repairs usually consist of overlaying the KOCH BJS Units with modified asphalt. The ease with which KOCH BJS Units can be repaired give them an advantage over many bridge joint systems, which must be removed for repairs, then replaced. ADT in the area where the KOCH BJS Units were installed is 80,000. It was necessary to close one traffic lane at a time during installation. Some congestion did result from the Jane closings, otherwise the units were installed with a minimum of interruption to motorists.