Maine Showcasing Composite Bridge Technologies
Contact: Roberta Laverty, 207-581-2110, roberta.laverty@umit.maine.edu
ORONO — Maine’s innovative composites bridge technologies are being highlighted during a two-day event Wednesday Oct 13 and Thursday Oct. 14. The 2010 Maine Composites Showcase, hosted by MaineDOT and its Maine composites partners, is introducing top bridge engineers from New England and the northeast region to the innovative composites bridge applications being developed and implemented in Maine.
A series of demonstrations and tours is scheduled for Thursday at the University of Maine.
MaineDOT, in partnership with the UMaine Advanced Structures & Composites Center (AEWC) and the Maine Composites Alliance has developed, tested and implemented a variety of innovative composite solutions for transportation. These composite technologies and applications have a significant benefit in transportation applications across the nation and the world since composites will not corrode, serve as a stay-in-place form in certain applications, are more durable, lighter and are easier to install than traditional materials.
Composites Showcase participants will have an opportunity to meet with Maine manufacturers, state transportation officials, and research engineers, to learn about Maine’s cutting-edge composite bridge materials and technologies. They will learn about the Bridge-in-a-Backpack™, a concrete filled composite arch bridge system. This bridge technology, developed at UMaine’s AEWC Advanced Structures and Composites Center and currently being commercialized by Advanced Infrastructure Technologies, LLC in Orono, has been used in the construction of bridges in Pittsfield, North Anson, Bradley and Belfast.
Another technology that Showcase participants will learn about is the hybrid composite beam (HC Beam) which is currently being manufactured by Harbor Technologies in Brunswick. This beam has been demonstrated in projects in New Jersey and Illinois and is currently being used for the construction of the new Knickerbocker Bridge in Boothbay.
A third technology, a composite culvert-lining system, provides an alternative to conventional reinforced concrete liners for culvert rehabilitation. These liners have been developed by MaineDOT and UMaine’s AEWC Advanced Structures and Composites Center and are being manufactured by Kenway Corporation in Augusta.
Showcase participants are taking advantage of an opportunity to visit Maine composites manufacturing facilities and composites demonstration bridges on Wednesday, Oct 13. On Thursday, Oct 14, they will spend the day at the University of Maine where they will learn about the state’s emerging composites bridge technologies from MaineDOT officials, AEWC Advanced Structures and Composites Center engineers, and Maine composites manufacturers.
In addition to MaineDOT and UMaine’s AEWC Advanced Structures and Composites Center, sponsors of the two day event include: the Maine Composites Alliance, Kenway Corporation, Harbor Technologies, HC Bridge LLC, and Advanced Infrastructure Technologies.
A schedule for Thursday’s activities:
AEWC – Presentations and facility tour – University of Maine in Orono
8:00 – 8:30 AEWC & AIT – Bridge in a Backpack technology
8:30 – 9:00 Harbor Technologies, LLC & John Hillman of HC Bridge Company, LLC – HC Beam technology
9:00 – 9:30 Kenway Corp – Bridge drains, culvert invert liners
9:30 – 10:00 Networking
10:00 – 10:30 MaineDOT Experiences – Nate Benoit, Robin Lanpher
10:30 – 11:30 Other New England DOT experiences/needs/interests
11:30 – 12:30 Lunch
12:30 – 2:00 Tour of AEWC
2:00 – 4:00 [Optional Site Visit to Neal Bridge in Pittsfield]