Creosote retention levels of timber highway bridge superstructures in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

James Wacker; Douglas M. Crawford; Merv O. Eriksson

doi:10.2737/FPL-RN-289

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Creosote retention levels of timber highway bridge superstructures in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

Informally Refereed

Authors:

James Wacker, Douglas M. Crawford, Merv O. Eriksson

Year:

2003

Type:

Research Note

Station:

Forest Products Laboratory

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/FPL-RN-289

Source:

Res. Note FPL–0289. Madison, WI : U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, 2003. 17 pages.

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Download (PDF 2.04 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/6340.pdf

Abstract

Environmental concerns about preservative bleeding (or migrating) from timber bridges have increased in recent years. This preliminary study examined the creosote retention levels at six timber highway bridges in Michigan's lower peninsula during the summer of 2000. Several test core samples were removed from the bridge superstructures (four bleeders and two controls) and were evaluated for creosote content in the laboratory. Results from three of the four bleeder bridges indicated high creosote retention levels between 36 and 52 lb/ft3 (576.7 and 833 kg/m3) after several years in service.

Keywords

Timber, highway, bridge, red pine, creosote, retention, bleeding

Citation

Wacker, James P.; Crawford, Douglas M.; Eriksson, Merv O. 2003. Creosote retention levels of timber highway bridge superstructures in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Res. Note FPL–0289. Madison, WI : U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, 2003. 17 pages.