Expansion joint and methods of preparing same

A bridge joint comprising:

• a channel having two non-parallel sides formed by bridge material and joined to the bottom of the channel at an obtuse angle;
• a gap at the bottom of the channel;
• a backer rod within the gap;
• a plate extending over the backer rod;
• a flexible sheeting extending over the plate and beyond the plate in each direction, wherein opposing ends of the flexible sheeting contacts the channel bottom;
• at least one binder layer covering the plate, the bottom and at least a portion of the sides of the channel;
• and
• one or more layers containing aggregate chips and binder covering the at least one binder layer.

A bridge joint comprising:

• a channel having two non-parallel sides formed by bridge material and joined to the bottom of the channel at an obtuse angle;
• a gap at the bottom of the channel;
• a backer rod within the gap;
• a plate extending over the backer rod;
• a locating pin positioned through the plate and into the backer rod;
• at least one binder layer covering the plate, the channel bottom and at least a portion of the sides of the channel;
• and
• one or more layers containing a binder and aggregate chips covering the at least one binder layer.

A bridge joint comprising:

• a channel having two non-parallel sides formed by bridge material and joined to the bottom of the channel at an obtuse angle;
• a gap at the bottom of the channel;
• a backer rod within the gap;
• a binder filling at least a portion of the gap above the backer rod;
• a plate extending over the backer rod;
• a flexible sheeting extending over the plate and beyond the plate in each direction, wherein opposing ends of the flexible sheeting contacts the channel bottom;
• and
• one or more layers containing a binder and aggregate chips covering the flexible sheeting, the channel bottom and at least a portion of the two non-parallel sides of the channel;
• wherein the binder below the plate and the binder above the plate is the same material.