Nebraska Highway Concrete Slab Lift and Level
Challenge
The Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) commissioned the repair of a 24-foot wide, 100-foot long section of Highway 6 near the intersection with Giles Road, in Omaha. This area of poured concrete road had settled 1.5 inches at its mid-span, creating a dip or sag in the highway that affected both ride quality and safety. Voids were also likely beneath the pavement at the joints. The NDOR specified that the concrete be lifted back toward level, voids be filled between the pavement and subgrade, and the entire project be completed in one day to minimize traffic disruption and inconvenience to the public. Although restricted, traffic flow had to continue throughout the project duration.
Solution
The NDOR selected Thrasher and our product, PolyLevel polyurethane injection foam, to fill the voids and lift Highway 6 back toward its original position. PolyLevel is a two-part material that expands into a rigid foam used to fill voids and stabilize and lift concrete slabs. Once injected through small 5/8-inch drilled “ports” in a slab or surface, a chemical reaction converts the liquid components to a strong, rapidly-setting foam material. In its foam state, PolyLevel is relatively light, weighing two to six pounds per cubic-foot (pcf). Other void-filling or lifting materials can weigh upwards of 120 pcf, adding significant weight to supporting soils or base materials and potentially contributing to further settlement issues. With a compressive strength of 100 pounds per square inch (psi), PolyLevel can provide the necessary resistance to support heavy loads. The two northbound lanes affected by the settlement were each repaired independently of the other to allow continued traffic flow. Due to the quick-set nature of PolyLevel, the first restored lane of highway was reopened to traffic a mere 20 minutes after injection. This allowed crews to quickly close and begin work on the adjacent northbound lane. A total of 2,358 pounds of PolyLevel was injected through 90 injection ports laid out in an approximate 5-foot grid. The expanding PolyLevel polyurethane foam filled the voids and lifted the sag in the highway by 1.5 inches. The entire project was completed in seven hours.
Project Summary
Products Installed: PolyLevel 400, High Density Spray Polyurethane
Product Characteristics (PL400):: 100 psi Compressive Strength, 146 psi Tensile Strength, 69 psi Shear Strength, 19: 1 Expansion Rate, 6 pcf Typical in Place Density
