Method for renovating of a traffic-carrying structure

A method for renovation of a traffic-carrying structure in the zone of an expansion joint existing between an abutment and a superstructure, comprising:

• removing existing road construction in the abutment side and superstructure side in the zones adjoining a bridging device to be replaced by forming, in the abutment and superstructure, excavations that are deeper than the road surface, at least a first excavation having a surface running substantially parallel to the associated road surface;
• demounting at least a part of the bridging device to be replaced which forms the traffic-carrying surface;
• removably mounting a temporary bridging element, which comprises a bridging plate spanning the expansion joint and a mating plate meshing therewith in a zone of a finger array, and whose surface adjoins the road surfaces of abutment and superstructure adjacent to the respective excavation in a manner that is flush with the road surfaces of abutment and superstructure and substantially free of gaps, uneven levels and angles, the bridging plate being braced in the zone of the finger array on the bottom of the first excavation;
• repeatedly removing the temporary bridging plate and remounting the temporary bridging plate until the remaining parts of the bridging device to be replaced are completely demounted at a level under the road surface and the site is prepared for mounting a new permanent bridging device;
• removing the temporary bridging element and mounting the new permanent bridging device;
• wherein at least for the first excavation, a rough excavation deeper than the thickness of the finger array of the temporary bridging element is made, after which a layer of polymer concrete or sealing mortar is applied on the surface of the rough excavation and the temporary bridging plate is placed slidingly on the surface thereof in the zone of the finger array.