WALSENBURG – Cheyenne Ueland, Vice President of TRICON-2, of Castle Rock, Colo. told the Huerfano World Journal this week the bridge construction project in the Northlands area should be fully completed by the first full week of October. She said crews are currently working on the dual bump issue by installing a asphaltic plug joint (APJ) which will eliminate the three inch discrepancy in the bridge height. The APJ, is the Colorado Department of Transportation’s approved patch for this type of problem and the state agency is using it on bridges throughout Colorado. Application of this repair, in effect an expansion joint, will remedy the problem many drivers over the bridge have experienced with the three inch difference in height between the roadway and bridge. Cole Ramsour, the construction site superintendent, said on Saturday the schedule calls for milling of both the north and south ends of the bridge, which will be followed by some paving work on Monday and Tuesday. Striping will follow on Wednesday with installation of the
specialized, pliable asphaltic plug on Thursday and Friday. This material will cover the current expansion joint and run approximately 13 feet into the bridge on both ends, eliminating the height difference. That work will be done by TLM Construction of Swink, CO, the only firm in the state that is using the new technology and has the specialized equipment necessary for the project. TLM has the statewide contract with CDOT for this work, which has only been used in Colorado for the past year. Ramsour said the asphaltic plug material expands and contracts with weather conditions but does not loose its shape or effectiveness. Photo by Eric Mullens
