Reinforce Roads and Bridges
Roadway and bridge infrastructure is highly susceptible to subgrade movement caused by erosion, vibration, and long-term traffic loads. When soils beneath approach slabs or pavement degrade, the result is cracking, differential settlement, and ride-quality issues. Polyurethane injection fills hidden voids, densifies weak soils, and lifts settled slabs—restoring structural performance without excavation or extended shutdowns.
What Is Roadway & Bridge Substructure Repair?
This service restores stability beneath bridge transitions, approach slabs, and adjacent pavement by addressing subgrade settlement, voids, and erosion. Expanding polyurethane is injected beneath the structure to fill voids and densify surrounding soils.
Bridge transitions are especially vulnerable due to soil loss at abutments or MSE walls, and soil consolidation caused by constant vibration and shifting loads. For roadways, settlement may also result from leaking infrastructure like culverts and sewer lines—often leading to sinkholes that can be safely addressed using polyurethane.
Where Might Substructure Repair Be Needed?
- Bridge approach and departure slabs
- Transition zones at abutments or MSE walls
- Pavement with differential settlement
- Roadways above leaking culverts or utilities
- Areas with recurring sinkholes or voids
- Shoulders or ramps showing deflection or cracking
- Embankments with poor original compaction
- Heavy-load corridors with long-term surface distress
We Recommend Substructure Repair If You See:
- Settlement or deflection at bridge transitions
- Joint separation between bridge deck and slab
- Cracking or sloping pavement near abutments
- Depressions forming in roadway surfaces
- Sinkholes or voids in the shoulder or lane
- Pavement heave or drop-off at transitions
- Repetitive patching in the same locations
- Slabs visibly displaced by traffic loads
- Known leaking culverts or utility corridors
- Soil instability near retaining structures
Is Substructure Repair Really Needed?
Yes—if left unaddressed, subgrade settlement under roads and bridges leads to unsafe driving conditions, structural degradation, and increased repair costs. Bridge transitions in particular are prone to long-term displacement due to traffic-induced vibration and soil loss at abutments or retaining systems.
For roadways, leaking culverts or underground utilities can erode supporting soils, forming voids and initiating sinkhole conditions. Polyurethane injection solves both problems—stabilizing surrounding soils and sealing the source of water infiltration.
What Are the Advantages of Substructure Repair?
This method restores support and ride quality—without removing infrastructure.
Fills Voids and Compacts Soil: Addresses hidden gaps and densifies surrounding weak zones.
Lifts and Relevels Slabs: Approach and departure slabs can be raised back to grade.
No Excavation Required: Accessed through small ports; roads and bridges remain in place.
Fast Turnaround: Most projects completed in 1–2 days.
Solves Sinkhole Conditions: Stabilizes soils and seals off leaking culverts or utilities contributing to collapse.
Common Problem Areas
- Bridge approach slabs
- Transitions near abutments or MSE walls
- Pavement above aging culverts
- Road shoulders prone to erosion
- Slabs over poorly compacted fill
- Areas with chronic surface cracking or deflection
Reinforce Roadways Quickly and Efficiently with Groundworks’ Polyurethane Stabilization Solutions.
How Does Substructure Repair Work?
A trenchless repair process that restores strength beneath critical infrastructure.
- Inspect site with radar, probing, or visual assessment
- Identify voids, settlement zones, or leakage-related erosion
- Drill small-diameter injection ports through pavement
- Inject expanding polyurethane into target depths
- Material fills voids and densifies soil to restore support
- If needed, slab lifting is performed under careful monitoring
- Injection is continued until movement and compaction goals are met
- Access ports sealed and site cleaned
- Final inspection and documentation delivered
Why This Is the Best Choice
- Keeps roads and bridges in service
- No need for slab or structure demolition
- Repairs can be staged during low-traffic periods
- Suitable for DOT, municipal, and industrial infrastructure
- Stabilizes soil around sinkholes or leaking structures
- Solves the root cause—not just surface symptoms
- Safe for use around buried utilities
- Supported by long-term field performance
Contact Groundworks for Substructure Repair
Roadway & Bridge Substructure Repair
Groundworks helps transportation agencies and engineers stabilize, lift, and extend the life of critical infrastructure. From bridge transitions to sinkhole-prone roadways, our polyurethane injection services provide reliable results without the need for excavation. Schedule a site evaluation today.
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FAQs
Yes. Our process can relevel slabs as well as stabilize the soils beneath them.
No. Repairs are trenchless and often completed with no lane closures.
Often it’s water infiltration, poor backfill, or soil loss from leaking culverts or utilities.
Most projects are completed in 1–3 days, depending on site size and scope.
Yes. We stabilize soils surrounding developing sinkholes and seal off underlying infrastructure leaks.
Disclaimer / Terminology
Substructure Repair: Stabilizing and restoring the ground beneath roads and bridges.
Bridge Transition Slab: A concrete slab that connects the roadway to the bridge deck.
Expanding Polyurethane: A structural-grade material injected to fill voids and strengthen soils.
MSE Wall: Mechanically stabilized earth wall often used at bridge or ramp transitions.
Sinkhole: A collapse in the surface due to underlying soil erosion, often from leaking infrastructure.