Replacement of bridge expansion joints: challenges and solutions

A bridge’s expansion joints will almost certainly have to be replaced several times during the course of the bridge’s life, often causing great disruption to traffic and significant expense to the owner – impacts which should, of course, be minimised. The choice of expansion joint selected to replace an old joint strongly influences the expense and disruption caused by replacement works, not only for the current replacement project but also for the next one in the future. Therefore, the way in which joint replacement works are to be carried out, and in particular the type of joint to be used, warrants careful consideration by the responsible engineers.