Backfilling I-95 Bridge Abutments with CJFill-Ultra Lightweight
The Job
Widening I-95 through Philadelphia is a massive road project. It is one of the biggest in the Northeast. Part of this project involves replacing and widening several bridges. Each bridge needs a special backfill for its abutments and retaining walls. This specific bridge design called for a cast-in-place abutment and a Gravix retaining wall.
The engineers on the project needed a light, flowable fill. This fill had to reduce the load on the new abutment. This would improve the pile design. The engineers specified cellular concrete for this from the start.
CJGeo dry batch cellular concrete equipment operating in the snow.
The Challenge
The project had a tight deadline. Winter weather also posed a problem. Pumping concrete in cold, snowy conditions is difficult. The site’s limited space made it hard to stage and deliver materials. The project needed a dependable solution. This solution had to be placed efficiently, even in freezing weather.
The Solution
CJGeo provided the exact solution. They used CJFill-Ultra Lightweight. It is a light, flowable cellular concrete. At 25 lbs per cubic foot, this material weighs far less than normal backfill. This significantly reduced the load on the new abutment. It also allowed for a more efficient pile design.
CJGeo’s ability to dry-batch on-site was a major plus. Normal concrete plants would have shut down in the snow. CJGeo’s custom plants ran continuously. This kept the project on schedule despite the harsh winter conditions. The crew pumped the material over 400 feet from the dry-batch plant. It went to the placement location. The crew filled the voids and backfilled the structures completely and efficiently.
The project team placed the specified material quickly and reliably. The crew saved time and labor costs. They made sure the backfill was stable. It also met all engineering plans.
Speak With An Expert
Have a project similar to this Philadelphia lightweight fill installation? Facing issues with lateral earth pressure, poor soils, or hard-to-access voids?
