The New Jersey Department of Transportation has metalized three structures this year that are part of the Route 33 Freeway Project. Additional metalizing work is scheduled for this year.

Howell Road, US Route 33 F, Howell Township, New Jersey

Length: 145 feet or 44.09 meters
Approx. Tons: 121
Area Metalized: 14,500 square feet (estimated)
Coating Thickness: .008” to .012”
Coating Material: Zinc
Date metalized: March 2001

Report and photo courtesy of New Jersey Department of Transportation.

New Jersey’s work is in part the result of the DOT’s evaluation of metalizing that began in the late 1980’s. Perhaps the most thorough comparison of metalizing and liquid coatings was the department’s evaluation of some 47 different coatings beginning in 1988. The site of the testing is the Mathis Bridge in Seaside Heights over Barnegat Bay.

The results of this evaluation were published in the Federal Highway Administration report, “Environmentally Acceptable Materials for the Corrosion Protection of Steel Bridges, Publication No: FHWA-RD-96058, January 1997. From the report Conclusions:

“The best performing systems were the three metalized coatings. These were initially less aesthetic than coating systems with high-gloss topcoats, but they displayed near-perfect corrosion performance after 5 to 6.5-year exposure periods.”

A more recent inspection of these coating was conducted in June of 1998. After 10 years exposure, the metalized coatings were given the highest rating of 10 on a scale of 1 to 10.

There is more information about this evaluation at our menu heading “FHWA”.