Precast Culverts Reduce Traffic

I hate traffic. As a matter of fact, one of my favorite pastimes is racing fast cars, so I find a dead stop in traffic nothing short of infuriating. I’m probably not alone in feeling the frustration.

Traffic eats away at our precious personal time. Did you know that the average American commute is almost one hour a day? We crawl along, staring at the back of the car in front of us. In Southern California, drivers spend more than 90 hours a year in traffic. These lucky commuters spend almost the equivalent of a two-week vacation in traffic.

There's a massive body of social science and public health research on the negative effects of commuting on personal and societal well-being. Longer commutes are even linked to increased rates of obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, back and neck pain, divorce, depression and death.

Of all the delays that cause increased traffic, surveys show that those caused by construction work zones can be the most frustrating. Of course, highways must be built and maintained, so these delays are a necessary evil in a vibrant and growing community, but there are practical ways to minimize the disruption.

Consider the culvert

Box culverts are commonly used under highways, and proper culvert construction is vital to the overall project, particularly where there are waterways, or where there may be risk of flash flooding. Needless to say, the integrity of the concrete used in a culvert is critical, otherwise the highway itself may be endangered. But when a box culvert is cast in place, it does mean extending the construction schedule, which results in traffic difficulties for additional weeks or even months. When a culvert is cast in place, the project must often stop to ensure that the concrete has reached its designed strength before the next concrete pour can start.

As a better option, monolithic precast box culvert sections can be manufactured elsewhere and transported to the highway construction site at a given point in time, exactly when they’re needed. Choosing precast culverts means less disruption on a construction site than using their field-cast cousins. That means less time to build or repair the highway, fewer “Road Work” signs, fewer complaints to city hall about traffic, and an all around smoother ride for everyone.  Another benefit of a plant-manufactured product is production in a quality-controlled environment where water/cement ratios can be carefully monitored. This results in a high compressive concrete and consistent quality.

Let’s consider a simple comparison of cast-in-place and precast structures. The advantages of precast are many, but I’ll just mention three big ones here:

·     Better quality

·     No weather worries

·     Minimized open time

As I mentioned above, one of the most important advantages with precast is the ability to control the quality. Factory precasting means the mix and the pour are closely controlled by computer to ensure complete consistency throughout. This is virtually impossible to achieve with onsite pouring. Precasting also means that the curing process can be closely monitored. The result is simply a better quality structure with proven consistency and material integrity.

Pouring concrete in the open for a cast-in-place structure, you’re at the mercy of the elements. Extreme heat or cold will affect curing time and can impact the quality of the final product. You can only imagine what heavy rain can do! A precast product means that you can stick to your construction schedule regardless. Once again, it’s a time-saver and a gridlock-saver.

Finally, a precast product reduces the amount of time you have to create a highway disruption. Casting in place involves setting and removing forms, setting and adjusting reinforcement material, such as rebar. The pour itself involves many variables, including the possibility that your concrete may have begun to cure in the truck. During the entire process — from setting up forms, through the curing process, down to the removal of forms and testing of the final product — there’s an open excavation and the likelihood that traffic must be diverted or otherwise disturbed.

At Thompson Pipe Group, we manufacture a variety of diameters from small to large pipes and box culverts using a variety of materials, including precast concrete, reinforced polymer concrete, fiberglass reinforced polymer, and steel pressure pipe. In addition to our gravity and pressure pipe portfolio, we also produce several precast structures. Our aim is to provide the right product for the right application. With such a large offering, we can do right by you, by your budget, and by the people you serve. 

Thinking about people

Our precast box culverts are built for people by people. Thompson Pipe Group has the engineering expertise to ensure a great finished product, the manufacturing knowhow, and the logistical expertise to ensure that the box culvert sections arrive at your construction site on schedule. We care about our people, and our people care about the products they manufacture and deliver.

Monolithic precast box culverts from Thompson Pipe Group adhere to all the relevant standards, including ASTM, AASHTO, Caltrans, TXDot, Greenbook, etc. They provide a solution that is quality-controlled in the factory, hydraulically efficient and economically viable, with a smaller environmental footprint.

Precast culverts mean a smoother installation, a smoother commute, less stress, and perhaps a longer and happier life for drivers. So, when you are finally zipping down the highway, cast a thought to the precast culverts that made that happen sooner. In fact, you might even want to pre-cast that thought.  

Your friend,

Branimir