Precast Concrete Application in Related Industries

The Precast Model

Rapid Construction Using Modular Precast Elements

The Precast Model

For centuries and ages, dams have been built from cast-in-place concrete, roller compacted concrete, earth, stone, or other building materials. Today, dams and other types of civil water infrastructure must be constructed faster, be of top quality, offer less risk, be environmentally sound, reduce labor and complexity and be more easily permitted and maintained.

To achieve all this and remain cost competitive, FDE Hydro developed and patented the French Dam from real-world, practical experience using precast concrete and other modular components.  FDE Hydro took a proven, accepted construction use and created an innovative, “disruptive technology” for the water industry.

Below are some field examples and lessons learned by FDE Hydro in the early stages.          

This video shows this 100 ton crane lifting the box culvert off the trailer, standing it up, then walking with it and setting it.  We estimate that each segment weigh about 50+ ton, but it takes less than 5 construction workers to build this structure.     

“The Fast 14 – Rapid Bridge Construction Using Precast”

A National Example

This project was showcased by the Federal Highway Administrator, Victor Mendez in July 2011, receiving national attention for the innovation it used to get the bridges built so quickly and safely, and for limiting major impacts on road users to off-peak hours.

The 93 Fast 14 Bridge Replacement, hosted by the Federal Highway Administration’s Highways for LIFE program, attracted highway officials from 26 states. These transportation leaders came to learn how to use customer service and safety-driven innovative techniques on their bridge construction projects

This historic project replaced fourteen bridges in Medford over the course of just ten weekends between June and August, 2011. MassDOT used several innovations, a detailed traffic management plan and a comprehensive communications plan to complete the bridge work safely, efficiently, economically, and in a manner that caused the least possible construction-related impacts and congestion. The project was completed on-budget and ahead of schedule, replacing all fourteen bridges in less than a year. Using conventional methods, this project would have taken at least four years, and during those four years drivers would have had to endure long-term lane closure.

Project Team

GEI Engineering – Design and Management
J. F White – Construction
W.L. French – Demolition and Transportation

MassDot Rapid Bridge Replacement Rt 93 Boston

Next Generation Civil Solutions

The bridges, built roughly sixty years ago, had reached the end of their service lives and were suffering from deterioration. The concrete of the bridge decks was in poor condition. The steel beams under the concrete decks were also in need of repair. MassDOT replaced the steel beams and concrete decks, which together make up the part of the bridge called the superstructure. The bridges’ piers and abutments, which make up the bridges’ substructures, were in good condition. MassDOT repaired the fourteen bridge substructures and revised them to fit the replacement superstructures.