Five Benefits of Precast Concrete Box Culvert Short-Span ...

In the past few decades, the construction of short-span bridges with precast concrete box culverts has revolutionized the industry. Today, it makes no sense to construct a short-span bridge in the field when precast concrete box culvert components make it so much quicker and easier. Here are five benefits that make precast concrete box culverts the optimal solution for short-span bridges.

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Time

Precast concrete box culverts exponentially decrease the time that it takes to build a short-span bridge. Bridge closures can be a huge issue on state highways and rural roads, where a closure can mean long detours that impact school buses, emergency vehicles, essential workers and the traveling public. Poured-in-place bridge construction can take months from start to finish. We even noticed one project recently that lingered for a full year. With a precast concrete box culvert, a typical short-span bridge project can be completed in about two weeks.

Money

When considering lifecycle costs – the total cost of the bridge over its lifespan – precast concrete short-span bridges will almost certainly provide a cost savings – whether it’s taxpayer dollars or private money. When considering the total cost, including on-site labor and installation time, pricing is comparable or even less when using precast. And a box culvert short-span bridge will last many decades into the future with little or no maintenance beyond occasional repaving.

Quality

Because all precast concrete box culvert components are constructed in a climate-controlled factory by our skilled Cemcast production team, the quality is unparalleled. When constructing a bridge in the field, there are many factors that can derail quality. It requires exceptionally skilled craftsmen to deal with the wet conditions, reroute the water and dewater the site. And that’s before they even begin building the forms. Then, the rebar must be properly placed and the formwork kept clean for the concrete pour. Add curing time to that and then factor in weather and there are many variables to control that are never an issue in our quality-controlled environment.

Safety

With a precast concrete box culvert installation, the jobsite is a much safer place. A small crew can install the culvert sections in a minimal amount of time, which eliminates many of the potential safety hazards that face a crew constructing a short-span bridge in the field.

Resiliency

Let’s say there was a massive rain event that washed out a culvert. We’ve seen pictures where a steel pipe or a plastic pipe would wash out and float down the road. If there is a flood event or a dramatic backflow event, 99.9 times out of 100 the precast structure will still be in place. Then, it simply becomes a matter of backfilling around it again, repaving the road and you’re back in business. You’re not going to be replacing the culvert and starting from scratch.

For these and other reasons, there’s simply no better method for short-span bridge building than with precast concrete box culvert components from Cemcast Pipe and Precast. Contact us about your project and we’ll be happy to tell you more about the Cemcast pledge to produce the highest quality products, expertly crafted and delivered to the jobsite on your schedule.

Concrete culverts might not be a topic you think about a lot, but they are something you use more often than you realize. Box culverts allow water to flow under roadways, railways, trails, or any other obstruction. Since roads are a main medium of transportation, precast concrete culverts are an integral part of that process. Without these tools, construction would negatively impact the environment and be far less efficient than it actually is.

Concrete culverts come in various shapes and sizes, including box, round, flat-bottomed, elliptical, and even pear-shaped. These differing culverts work well in any necessary situation. For example, concrete box culverts serve as utility tunnels during construction, allowing electricity, water, and sewer lines to run uninterrupted.

Harper Precast is a long-standing concrete supplier for public and private companies looking for precast concrete solutions in Utah, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Idaho. Our concrete experts understand the importance that box culverts have in the construction industry.

Let’s discuss the benefits of concrete culverts and ways you can use them in your next project.

Benefits of Concrete Box Culverts

Working with Harper Precast, you can customize your precast concrete culverts with various features that fit your construction design’s needs perfectly. Here are a few of the advantages of concrete box culverts:

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Strength

Box culverts can meet or exceed the required load capacity of the project. Precast concrete suppliers will also manufacture the culverts to support pedestrians, livestock, automobiles, rail transportation, and more.

Consistency

Another benefit of precast concrete is the consistency of the product. Precast manufacturers cast the concrete in a controlled facility that strictly controls the environment. This control increases the product quality, unlike other concrete varieties that can suffer from weather variations, common in Utah, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and other environments.

Fewer delays

Precast concrete suppliers pour and cast the box culverts in advance, so you won’t need to worry about manufacturing delays. When it’s time to install, you will need a crane and a small work crew to install. Once placed, backfilled, and put into service, other construction can begin. This simplified process reduces budget-busting delays.

Install in Any Weather

You won’t need to worry about harsh weather conditions during construction, either. When making precast products, rain, temperature, and site conditions won’t impact installation as concrete box culvert installation can happen in any weather condition.

Budget and Eco-friendly

Another advantage of concrete culverts is precast concrete box culverts require fewer workers and hours. It also is less impactful on the environment. These factors will save money and help you decrease your company’s environmental impact.

Different Uses of Precast Concrete Culverts

Now that you understand the benefits of concrete box culverts let’s talk about the different ways these products can work in your next project.

Concrete Box Culverts for Roads and Highway Construction

One of the most frequently used options people use box culverts is in roadway and highway construction. These culverts give roads the ability to withstand the weight of heavy traffic loads and various weather conditions. Putting precast concrete box culverts beneath highways and other roads are the best option thanks to its durability and strength. You can also design concrete box culverts to allow water flow and not disrupt any natural streams or rivers. It won’t impede traffic flow either. Culverts can double as animal crossings, as well.

Box Culverts in Railroad Construction

Constructing railways, light rails, and other rail transportation greatly relies on concrete box culverts. In fact, under track culverts are an important invention to modern railroad construction. These culverts work well as a replacement for small bridges, animal, and waterway crossings. Not only can you customize your precast concrete box culverts to the required load capacity, but it can support pedestrians, livestock, automobiles, railroads, and more.

Concrete Box Culverts in Utility Work

As discussed earlier, precast concrete box culverts work well for those in the utility work industry. These culverts serve well as a communication line, power, water, and wastewater tunnels. You won’t need to sacrifice running these crucial lines during construction or after with concrete box culverts. You will still have telephone and cable television connections; instead, culverts will carry electricity, power, and sewage through the roadway.

Utility tunnels are also suitable for cold climate regions where it is difficult to bury them below the frost level. It also works in areas where the water table is too high to bury water and sewage pipes or places where public utilities are possibly succeeded in earthquakes or storms. Many of these conditions impact the locations Harper Precast operates like Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Arizona, Oregon, California, and more.

Harper Precast Concrete Culvert Services

Are you looking for a specialist in residential or commercial concrete services? Harper Precast provides several homeowners with residential concrete products and businesses with precast services. Builders and property owners have a range of decisions to make, from fencing and security to landscaping and maintenance options. Precast concrete solutions are the best option for adding value, durability, and protection to your home.

Our precast concrete box culvert services provide you with all the customization tools you need to make your project flow as it should. You deserve a concrete contractor who knows what you need for your construction design. Let Harper Precast be the precast concrete specialist you rely on to make your concrete project a success. Contact us today to get started.

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