Two railway bridges built entirely of recycled plastic have been completed and tested at the US Army Transportation Corps base at Fort Eustis, Virginia.
The bridges have been designed by Parsons Brinckerhoff and built from Axion's patented recycled structural composite, RSC, which is a thermoplastic solution consisting of nearly 100% recycled post-consumer and industrial plastic. "Not only is this bridge able to support the weight of a 120t locomotive, but it was also less expensive to build than one using steel, concrete or wood," said Axion chief executive officer James Kerstein.
'RSC material meets the country's need for green, sustainable and durable competitive products which are highly competitive initially and on a life cycle cost basis,' said Parsons Brinkerhoff's principal in charge of the design Vijay Chandra.
Other organisations involved in the collaboration are Rutgers University, Centennial Contractors Enterprises, English Construction and Innovative Green Solutions.
