Sheldon, Iowa — Several bridges along Highway 18 will be getting concrete overlays this summer, but a bridge at the west edge of Sheldon will be the only one getting an Ultra High Performance Concrete Overlay.
Robert Cramer of Cramer and Associates of Grimes, Iowa, says Walo, a Swiss construction company, has moved on the bridge located on the west edge of Sheldon on Highway 18, and are starting work this week. Cramer says the crew will be working for about the next three weeks.
Cramer says this marks the first time that the Iowa Department of Transportation has used the Ultra High Performance Overlay, and that it’s drawing a lot of attention.
He says Ultra High Performance Concrete Overlay is a new mix of concrete that is designed to last much longer and is designed to keep the salt from de-icing treatments from penetrating down to the rebars in the concrete deck which causes deterioration.
Cramer tells KIWA that the drawback to the new overlay is that it is significantly more expensive that normal concrete overlay.
