From the August 2000 issue of The Beacon -- The Bill Emerson
Memorial Bridge has completed another major milestone on its way to
spanning the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau--the jet-grouting
process is complete.
Jet-grouting was used to strengthen fissures in the bedrock at the Pier 3 site.
The crevices in the bedrock were filled with cement grout through a process similar
to that of visiting your local dentist.
Borings were made to a determined depth and a jet-grouting tool was inserted.
The tool used high-pressure water and air to flush silt and other weak deposits
from the surrounding area and simultaneously fill those spaces with a cement
mix.
The process took about a year and a half to complete. Jet grouting was necessary
for the bridge to meet the seismic requirements for Southeast Missouri.
The next step in the process is continued work on the main span
set for completion in 2003.
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