FAYETTEVILLE -- Portions of a reinforced concrete wall dividing the north and south lanes of Interstate 49 near the Lowell exit will have to be repaired or replaced, state highway officials said Thursday.
Inspectors recently found problems with about 1,200 feet of the barrier, according to Danny Straessle, a spokesman for the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department. Apparently, the reinforcing bar moved inside the slip-forms when the concrete for the wall was being poured and formed, he said.
"Our inspectors noticed it and asked that it be repaired," Straessle said. "Score one for our inspectors; they were able to catch it, and it'll be done right."
Straessle said the contractor will pay the cost of repairing the wall. The Highway Department is awaiting a report on how to correct the problem and how much of the wall needs to be redone.
APAC Central of Fayetteville is the contractor on the job. The purpose of the project is to widen 2.5 miles of Interstate 49 to three lanes in each direction in Benton County between mile markers 75 and 78.
The $14.5 million project is expected to be completed in late 2014.
Straessle said it isn't uncommon for rebar to shift during construction either from the reinforcing bar not being tied tightly enough, the concrete mix being too dense and pushing the rebar out of place or mechanical action of the slip-forms causing it to move. He said it's not clear exactly what caused the problem but it should not be seen as a sign of the contractor doing shoddy work.
Part of the wall has been demolished, and other parts are being cut apart in anticipation of reconstructing the wall.
NW News on 09/12/2014