Reinforced concrete bridge decking and method of making same

Deck structure for bridges or the like, comprising:

• deck support means comprising a sub-decking;
• a plurality of parallel, spaced apart rails extending across the deck and secured on the deck support means, said rails each having laterally projecting foot flanges and a laterally enlarged head;
• a plurality of deck panels spanning the distance between adjacent rails and supported on said rails;
• resilient bearing pads engaged between the panels and the foot flanges of the rails to resiliently support the panels on the rails;
• and
• resilient locking wedges engaged between the panels and the head of the rails to retain the panels in place on the rails, said resilient bearing pads and locking wedges comprising the only connection between the panels and rails.

The method of constructing a deck structure for bridges or the like, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of substantially identical deck panels;
• securing a plurality of parallel, spaced apart rails each having laterally projecting foot flanges and a laterally enlarged head, on a sub-decking;
• placing resilient bearing pad means on the foot flanges of the rails;
• placing the panels to span the distance between adjacent rails with opposite ends thereof resting on the resilient bearing pads;
• and
• inserting resilient locking means between the head of the rails and the ends of the panels to secure the panels in place.