Construction started on the Coventry City ring road in the 1960’s and continued under several phases until its completion in the 1970’s. This busy ring road provides a quick method for traffic to circumnavigate the city centre. Some time ago the structure was found to be suffering problems caused primarily through leaking road expansion joints. For many years these leaking, overstressed asphaltic plug joints have been allowing saline water to attack the concrete crossheads, reinforcement and beam ends. This structure was rapidly deteriorating and a quick repair to the expansion joints was sought by the engineering staff of the Babtie Consultants Group.
This heavily trafficked road has several elevated sections. These suspended deck levels have an inverted concrete ‘T’ section cross head structure that supports on concrete columns or piers, the bridge beams. This inverted ‘T’ section forms a central upstand, with the bridge beams being located either side of this upstand. This design meant that originally two joints, aprox 1 metre apart, were placed in the road surface so as to accommodate the deck movement.
‘PERMATRACK HEAVY DUTY ROAD JOINT’ was chosen as the most economical way in achieving a long lived solution. This highway agency registered joint is able to be installed at any width with a minimum depth of 50mm. It fully retains anti-skid aggregates such as pre-coated chippings. The material has excellent rut resistance even against heavy standing vehicles, and is quick to install in most weather conditions. Having a fast "open to traffic cure" makes this product the ideal repair medium.
