The seamless pavement connection is an improvement to the interface between continuouslyreinforced concrete pavements and bridge decks by eliminating all transverse joints andproviding a reinforced concrete connection between the pavement and bridge. This results inimproved ride quality for highway users and reduced maintenance costs to the community bythe elimination of expansion joints at the bridge abutments.Bridge to pavement connections using the seamless pavement technique were first completedin 2004 and have been successfully used at over 50 bridge locations in Australia. This paperreviews the design principles and compares actual performance with the design theoryWith suitable modification, the system can also be used to eliminate expansion joints whenbridges are adjacent to other pavement types. Retrofitting existing bridges to eliminate joints isalso possible. The elimination of joints at the ends of bridges is a significant step in extendingthe service life of bridges.
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