Design flexibility, optimal strength-to-weight ratio, superior durability, corrosion resistance and zero maintenance have continued to boost the popularity of FRP material among contractors and state-level department of transportation agencies. "For the last two decades, FRP composites have generated life cycle cost savings that have incentivized its adoption as a construction material," says Scott Reeve, business development for CCG. "The growing trend toward sustainable practices has also prompted companies to choose FRP, which embodies lower energy consumption and emissions when compared to steel and concrete."
CCG's engineered FRP panels use a fiber reinforced foam core encased by two fiberglass facesheets to produce a sandwich structure. The closed-cell foam creates the prefabricated bridge panel's shape and eliminates the potential for open cavities where water could collect.
The durable decking panels support a uniform load of 90 psf for all designs and comply with American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) regulatory standards for pedestrian bridges. CCG's FRP panels can also incorporate custom shapes and functional features such as crowns, cross-slopes, curbs and drainage systems.
"With infrastructure expanding under the new bill, state and local transportation agencies will have to look at ways to accommodate a growing population of pedestrians and bicyclists," says Reeve. "Reducing the width or number of vehicle lanes to make room for a pedestrian walkway is not a safe option. Building a separate bridge is an expensive endeavor, particularly with the rising cost of raw materials and the labor shortage. Lightweight FRP decking is durable and strong enough to support a crowd of people without putting a large dead load on a vehicle bridge."
CCG is scheduled to install FRP bridge decks for Washington State's 236th Street Sidewalk in July 2022, Delaware's Northampton Street Sidewalk in August 2022 and three FRP bridge decks for New Mexico's Tramway Trail in July, September and October 2022.
Creative Composites Group (CCG) supplies innovative Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) products for major infrastructure markets. Whether a job calls for tight tolerances or robust, very large structures, CCG has the design-build and structural fabrication expertise to provide engineered systems and OEM solutions. The Group’s combined team of engineers and technicians have been developing lightweight, durable, cost-effective FRP products for structurally demanding applications and corrosive environments for more than 50 years. Many of these products have paved the way for first-time use of engineered FRP composites for demanding infrastructure markets including: utility, rail, bridges and waterfront applications because of FRP's high-performance attributes.