Field-assembly concrete dowel basket

An assembled field-assembly dowel basket for concrete construction, comprising:

• a plurality of basket side sections, wherein basket each side section comprises two clips, two end wires, and one frame wire connecting the clips together, wherein the clips are removably attached to the end wires and the frame wire;
• a plurality of basket web sections, wherein each basket web sections comprises two basket side sections, a “T” connector removably attached to each basket side section, and a shipping wire removably attached to the T″ connector spacing;
• wherein the shipping wire and “T” connectors space the basket sides apart and position pairs of clips such that each pair of clips supports an associated dowel;
• wherein the “T” connectors removably attach the basket web sections to each other to form dowel basket comprising a chain of basket web sections.

A method for constructing a concrete road at a road construction site, comprising

• manufacturing or obtaining components of field-assembly dowel baskets;
• transporting the components in bulk quantities to the construction site;
• assembling a dowel basket of desired length from the components at the construction site;
• positioning the dowel basket at the edge of a first concrete slab to be poured;
• positioning a concrete form around dowels of the dowel basket, wherein the form comprises notches configured to accommodate the dowels;
• pouring the first concrete slab so that a first portion of each dowel is embedded in the first slab and a second portion of each dowel extends from the first slab;
• and
• after the first slab sets, removing the form and pouring a second concrete slab adjacent to the first concrete slab over the second portions of the dowels so that the dowels span a joint between the first and second concrete slabs;
• and assembling each field-assembly dowel basket from removably attachable components, comprising:
• a plurality of dowels;
• a plurality of clips, each clip configured to removably support one of the dowels, each clip further configured to removably receive wire segments;
• the wire segments including a plurality of end wires and a plurality of frame wires;
• and a plurality of “T” connectors removably attachable to the end wires and a plurality shipping wires;
• wherein the shipping wires are configured to space apart basket sides assembled from the clips and wire segments to position pairs of clips such that each pair of clips supports an associated dowel.