Oakland, California
At 3:42 am on Sunday, April 29th 2007, a gasoline tanker traveling on Westbound 80 to Southbound 880 toward San Jose overturned and caught fire. The intense heat caused the steel frame of the freeway to soften and the Eastbound 580 connector above collapsed onto the 880 connector, closing two major arteries in the interchange known as the MacArthur Maze. The cost to California was estimated at over $4 million a day in detoured trucking and approximately $200,000 a day in lost bridge revenue.
That same day, Governor Schwarzenegger issued an emergency declaration to begin immediate repair and replacement of the interchange. The challenge was to get the structure torn down and replaced in as short a time as possible. CC Myers won the emergency-repair contract and was given a maximum of 50 days to complete the repair.
Declaring the concrete structurally sound, the damaged section of the Southbound 880 connector ramp, which runs below the I-580 freeway, was quickly repaired and opened on May 7th. The damaged section of the Eastbound 580 connector ramp, however, needed a complete replacement.
A 165-foot segment had to be demolished, new steel girders and a concrete support column had to be constructed and installed, and then 200 cubic yards of concrete had to be poured for the deck. Central Concrete Supply Company won the contract to provide the concrete.
With the help of concrete specialists from our own Central Concrete, along with specialists from CC Myers, BASF, DCI Labs, and Cal Trans, a mix was developed that achieved 3600 psi in 48 hours and ultimately 5000 psi to open to traffic.
The final pour occurred on May 22nd and the repaired section was officially opened that Friday, May 25th. Governor Schwarzenegger joined local leaders, legislators and members of Congress for a reopening ceremony celebrating the full reopening of the MacArthur Maze to commuters, only 26 days after the closing.
Concrete Contractor: CC Myers, Inc.
Engineer: California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
Number of Cubic Yards: Approx 250 yards
Mix Specifications: M475KGMCT 3600 psi @48 hrs and 5000 @ 28 days