Bringing hydrodemolition to Wisconsin

Michels Corporation is expanding our use of a high-pressure water jet stream to fix concrete damage caused by ice-fighting road salt. The process, called hydrodemolition, is being used for the first time in Wisconsin on three interstate overpasses.

Over time, concrete surfaces on bridges, tunnels, dams and other areas deteriorate, eventually requiring removal and replacement to avoid structural damage. While conventional mechanical methods, like milling and jackhammering, remove the damaged concrete, they also create microfractures, or small defects, in the remaining concrete. On the contrary, hydrodemolition uses computerized self-propelled robotic machines to selectively remove damaged concrete while preparing the remaining surface for a new top layer.