Soil compaction and erosion has created a void under this concrete sidewalk slab, causing it to settle and create an unsafe ridge in the sidewalk.
Road settlement is a concerns for municipalities and transportation authorities. If soil compaction and erosion occurs under the roadway (or sidewalk), a void will be created under the surface and cause the roadway or sidewalk to collapse and settle into the void causing breaks and ridges on the surface.
Soil compaction and erosion has created a void under this concrete sidewalk slab, causing it to settle and create an unsafe ridge in the sidewalk.
Sidewalk settlement (broken sidewalks) draw a lot of attention from road maintenance departments because they are more common and may potentially cause more serious accidental hazard. A Honolulu jury recently awarded a California woman more than $3.6 million in damages for injuries she sustained when she fell on a Waikiki sidewalk. What can your department do to avoid a similar accident?
Three prevalent options to repair or lift settled, broken sidewalk slabs are:
1.Dig up the sidewalk and pour a new one to replace it (most expensive!)
2.Use a concrete slurry to fill the void under the sidewalk and lift the settled slab back into place
3.Use an expanding chemical grout to fill the void under the sidewalk and lift the settled slab back into place
Martech, Prime Resins and our contractor partners are successfully introducing Canadian municipalities to the best way to fix sidewalk settlement issues: Precision Lift™ polyurethane expandable chemical grouts.
Precision Lift™ compared to Traditional Cement Slurry
Quickly Fill Voids and Lift Concrete Slabs with Precision Lift™
A slab-lifting project with Precision Lift™ requires only a 1 or 2 man crew with a truck to accomplish the job. Typical sidewalk lifting jobs are usually done within 1 hour. The hole in the sidewalks is only 3/8″, instead of the 2″ or more needed for traditional concrete solutions.
Precision Lift™ is a permanent fix for settlement issues. The polyurethane grout bonds to the sand and gravel underneath the slab and sets into a permanent stable foundation. The cured materials are also water resistant, and they will hold in place preventing future settlement issues.
Find out more about how Precision Lift™ slab lifting can work for your city.
Contact Martech for information on how to apply this slab lifting solution in your area.
Liang Yu is Martech’s Sales Territory Architect for Municipal Infrastructure in Northern Alberta. Liang can be reached via e-mail (lyu@drivingstrategicsales.com) or phone (800-461-0006 ext 3524).