UDOT crews perform temporary bridge-pothole patches; staff say deck remains structurally sound

Utah Department of Transportation crews carried out temporary pothole repairs on a bridge deck, saying the structure is structurally safe and that crews will maintain the deck until a full replacement can be done, a staff member said.

A staff member described the repair sequence used on the deck: crews mark damaged areas, saw-cut the patch boundaries, jackhammer out deteriorated concrete, clean the holes and then bring in a concrete patching mix to pour the next morning. "We'll clean the holes out really well, and then tomorrow morning, they'll come in with a concrete patching mix and pour them back," the staff member said.

The staff member said the work is intended to keep the span serviceable for the near term. "So this structure has had several potholes throughout the bridge deck that have continued to open up and, progressively get worse," the staff member said, adding that the temporary fixes are meant to preserve the deck "for the next couple years until we can do a full replacement." The employee described the deck as "structurally safe," while noting that de-icing agents have penetrated the concrete and corroded reinforcing steel, which then expands and breaks the concrete apart.

A second staff member offered hands-on guidance and encouragement while operating the jackhammer and helping to remove damaged material. The crew pointed out where rebar was exposed and indicated that crews will stop removal at that depth to avoid undermining the structure.

Crews said the repairs are performed in-house by UDOT personnel and affiliated crews, and framed the work as routine maintenance that keeps the traveling public moving. No schedule or funding details for a full deck replacement were provided during the conversation.

Crews said they would monitor and maintain the temporary patches; the staff member said the repair plan is a stopgap measure until a longer-term replacement can be planned.