The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has been working to repair highway bumps and dips on Interstate 25 in Colorado Springs. A recent repair project focused on a series of dips that had developed between Bijou Street and the Colorado Avenue bridge.
Repair Strategy
CDOT maintenance supervisor Eric Meyers explained that the cause of the dips was unknown, but the result was sunken concrete panels. To correct the issue, CDOT used a process called foam jacking, which involves drilling small holes into the panels and injecting a polyurethane foam.
The foam cures in less than 30 minutes and can bear the weight of traffic almost immediately. This method offers advantages over traditional mud jacking, including smaller drilling holes and a waterproof, erosion-resistant foam.
Challenges of Repairing Highway Bumps and Dips
Meyers noted that any kind of concrete work on a busy highway like I-25 is a major challenge. The concrete pavement is extremely thick, and removing and replacing it takes a long time.
The best solution for potholes and bumps on concrete pavement is to remove the damaged panels and replace them. However, this is not always possible, and temporary repairs may be necessary.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
