Bucknam Bridge Repair

Project Overview

Aging infrastructure and compressible marine clay soils beneath I-295 outside of Portland, Maine required a lightweight fill solution that reduced settlement while also maintaining the compressive strength needed to support roadway traffic loads.

Foamed Glass Aggregate being used at the Bucknam Bridge Repair

Design Challenges

Bucknam Bridge faced geotechnical challenges that complicated an otherwise straightforward infrastructure replacement. The aging bridge’s structure required a complete reconstruction, but the site’s geotechnical conditions created the following challenges:

Compressible foundation soils: Soft marine clay soil along coastal Maine are prone to settling under load.
Loading requirements: The bridge abutments needed to support the bridge’s dead load and roadway traffic.
Settlement risk: Traditional granular fill would add excessive weight to the clay foundation, risking long-term settlement that could compromise the bridge’s structural integrity and longevity.

Glavel as a Solution

Foamed glass aggregate offered the combination of structural support and low unit weight needed for the installation. MaineDOT’s engineers specified foamed glass aggregate because of its low-bulk density and compressive strength that provided the structural capacity to support the bridge’s structure and traffic loads. The team at R.J. Grondin placed and compacted 6 feet of foamed glass aggregate to raise the grade and create stable bridge abutments.

Project Name

Bucknam Bridge Repair

Location

Falmouth, Maine

Application

Lightweight Fill

Market

Infrastructure Construction

Product

Glavel Foamed Glass Aggregate

Scope Completion Date

August 2024

Volume

1,900 cubic yards

Carbon Savings

Partners

R.J. Grondin & Sons

MaineDOT

Case Studies

Infrastructure Construction

, Lightweight Fill

Exit 17 Bridge Replacement

Vermont’s Exit 17 Bridge replacement used 12,500 cubic yards of foamed glass aggregate to build bridge approaches over deep clay soils, eliminating the need for costly excavation while preventing long-term settlement in the I-89 corridor.

Commercial Construction

, Subslab Insulation

OnLogic

OnLogic’s 150,000 sq ft headquarters achieved 87% embodied carbon reduction by replacing traditional foam insulation with foamed glass aggregate in their subslab assembly.

Infrastructure Construction

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Route 28 Bridge Replacement

A historic bridge through the Adirondack Park near Raquette Lake needed a 12 foot grade change over a sensitive marshland. Foamed glass aggregate delivered a lightweight solution that protected the nearby landscape and eliminated the need for driving piles.

Commercial Construction

OnLogic

OnLogic’s 150,000 sq ft headquarters achieved 87% embodied carbon reduction by replacing traditional foam insulation with foamed glass aggregate in their subslab assembly.

Let’s Build Together.

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