Bridge Expansion Joint for Bridges Near Airports

Bridge expansion joints near airports must comply with aviation safety requirements, including height restrictions and obstacle lighting. The joint design must also minimize the risk of foreign object damage (FOD) to aircraft from joint components. Height restrictions near airports are defined by the airport obstacle limitation surfaces (OLS). Bridges near airports must not penetrate the OLS, which limits the height of structures near the airport. The joint design must not add height to the bridge that would cause it to penetrate the OLS. Obstacle lighting requirements for bridges near airports depend on the bridge height and its proximity to the airport. Bridges that penetrate the OLS must be equipped with aviation obstacle lights to warn pilots. The lights must comply with the specifications in the applicable aviation authority regulations. FOD prevention for bridges near airports requires the joint to be designed to prevent any components from becoming loose and being ingested by aircraft engines. All joint components must be securely fastened and must not be able to become loose under traffic loading or wind loading. Regular inspection must verify that all components are secure. Radar reflection from bridge expansion joints can affect the airport radar systems. Metal components of the joint can reflect radar signals, creating false targets on the radar display. The joint design should minimize the radar cross-section of the joint components to reduce the risk of radar interference. Maintenance of bridge expansion joints near airports must be coordinated with the airport authority to ensure that the maintenance activities do not interfere with airport operations. Any maintenance that requires the use of cranes or other tall equipment must be approved by the airport authority before it is performed.