Workers used an environmentally friendly spray system developed using Space Shuttle technology to apply a non-skid surface to a bridge south of Huntsville during a demonstration test. Traffic was crossing the bridge four hours later. Current methods require workers prepare the surface, apply a resin system, manually lay down a coat of gravel or non-skid materials and apply a second coat of resin. The new spray system completes the job in one pass after the roadway is prepared. CST TM currently is used to apply a heat-resistant coating to the Shuttle's solid rocket boosters.
Workers resurface bridge with environmentally friendly spray system.
Not only does it shorten the job, but the process does not harm the environment. Common and recycled filler materials and common resin systems can be used with the spray equipment. This project's investigator used a mixture of ground flint and resin to resurface the bridge. The new coating provides a higher grade of traction and better protects the bridge from erosion. The project is a product of a 1994 agreement between MSFC and the Federal Highway Administration's Region 4 office for the Southeastern United States.