Widening an existing roadway
Widening an existing roadway
(OP)
I have to widen an existing interstate facility in a rock cut section where we have to maintain traffic on the existing facility. Can the new rock cut be accomplished safely while traffic is maintained within 300’? Are there alternatives to blasting?





RE: Widening an existing roadway
RE: Widening an existing roadway
RE: Widening an existing roadway
These are large diameter circular saws and diamond cutters on long wire ropes.
They will allow precision demolition of concrete and may also work in hard rock.
For a listing of some companies offering this service see http://www.consource.com/communities/2358 On... of these should be in your area and can advise.
Costs will be higher than traditional blasting but you can work in tight areas with little or no over excavation. I have demolished concrete right next to large operating industrial machinery.
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
www.kitsonengineering.com
RE: Widening an existing roadway
Frank Lucca M.I.Exp.E.
www.terradinamica.com
RE: Widening an existing roadway
I don't think so.
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
www.kitsonengineering.com
RE: Widening an existing roadway
Please see FAQ731-376 for great suggestions on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
RE: Widening an existing roadway
Controlled blasting can be done anywhere in any environment if you have the expertize. Not a job for the low bidder.
Frank Lucca M.I.Exp.E.
www.terradinamica.com
RE: Widening an existing roadway
RE: Widening an existing roadway
Actually, I wish we had a three hundred foot zone in the cities. We may get 25 - 50 feet if we're lucky (especially in NYC).
Also, on heavily traveled roads, you'll get maybe a 1-3 minute window to fire the blast. Usually, a rolling roadblock is used.
If you are 300 feet away, matted, and properly loaded, a 1-3 minute window is more then enough. If its a sidehill cut that cannot be matted, then you must use different pattern geometries, timing, and explosives to keep the rock from moving, but still fractured enough to muck. Then, you may actually get a 10 minute window to clean up the road, but they usually want 1 lane open in 5 minutes. If you are 300 feet away and hit the road with enough rock to shut it down, you should get out of explosives engineering.
If you want to talk about blasting in other countries, I've seen it all (28 countries). Except for Europe, Australia, and Japan, I wouldn't trust anybody loading holes that I didn't personnally train.
Frank Lucca M.I.Exp.E.
www.terradinamica.com
RE: Widening an existing roadway
RE: Widening an existing roadway
Shorter road closures and closer distances can be done quite successfully. But these require real experts - like exploengineer. (There are quite a few "experts" in this area I wouldn't trust to tie my shoes.) Having said that, I'm sure that exploengineer would agree that a 300 foot clear distance is always preferable to 25 feet, all other things being equal -
Please see FAQ731-376 for great suggestions on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
RE: Widening an existing roadway
RE: Widening an existing roadway
Please see FAQ731-376 for great suggestions on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.