Concrete assets under pressure
Highway infrastructure must perform under some of the most demanding conditions in the built environment.
Bridges, retaining walls, tunnels, culverts, parapets and approach slabs are exposed to heavy traffic, seasonal weather, standing water, de-icing salts and airborne contaminants.
For civil infrastructure managers, the challenge is not only technical. It is also operational and commercial. A defect on a busy route can mean lane closures, traffic management, public disruption, contractor mobilisation and pressure on maintenance budgets.
Water ingress is often the starting point
Water is one of the main pathways for concrete deterioration. It can carry chlorides and other contaminants into the pore structure, support corrosion activity around reinforcement and contribute to freeze-thaw damage where saturation and cold conditions are present.
The problem is that this process can advance below the surface before obvious signs appear. By the time cracking, rust staining, or spalling are visible, the asset may already need more invasive repair work.
Maintenance windows are limited
Highway asset teams often manage large asset portfolios with restricted access windows. Planned works must compete with emergency repairs, inspection findings and wider network priorities.
This can create a familiar cycle: inspect, identify defects, patch, reopen, monitor and return again later. Reactive repair has an important role, but it does not always address the movement of moisture and contaminants through the concrete.
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| PROJECT CASE STUDY: New Speybridge |
Different approaches for different assets
New construction
For new highway structures, durability planning can start before the concrete is placed. Engineers may review mix design, water-to-cement ratio, supplementary cementitious materials, curing practices, corrosion inhibitors, waterproofing admixtures, membranes, and surface protection systems.
The aim is to reduce future risk. A more durable concrete matrix, supported by effective moisture control, can improve whole-of-life value and extend service life.
Existing concrete
Older assets usually need a different strategy. Common maintenance options include crack repair, patch repair, coatings, sealers, cathodic protection, joint upgrades and partial concrete replacement.
Each method may be appropriate in the right situation. The challenge is selecting options that suit the asset condition, exposure, access constraints and desired remaining life.
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| PROJECT CASE STUDY: Friarton Bridge edge beam |
Have you considered concrete hydrogel protection?
Protection within the concrete
Concrete hydrogel treatments take a different approach from products that depend only on a surface film. They penetrate into the concrete and react within the pore structure to form a hydrogel network.
This internal action helps reduce moisture movement through the concrete. Because the treatment works within the substrate, it is less dependent on maintaining a perfect surface coating in exposed highway environments.
A practical fit for highway infrastructure
For highway infrastructure, this can be particularly useful. Hydrogel treatment may assist with moisture control in bridge decks, substructures, retaining walls, tunnels, culverts and other exposed concrete elements.
It can also be considered as part of a broader durability strategy for new construction, or as a maintenance treatment for existing assets where reducing water ingress is a priority.
MARKHAM concrete hydrogel treatments are safe, nil VOC and genuinely environmentally friendly.
For existing infrastructure, the application of hydrogel protection involved minimal downtime of the asset.
- RELATED TOPIC: Concrete carbonation – why should I care?
Supporting whole-of-life decisions
Infrastructure managers are increasingly looking beyond upfront cost. They need solutions that support service life, reduce repeat interventions and help keep routes available.
Hydrogel technology is not about removing the need for inspection or good maintenance practice. It is about helping concrete resist one of the main drivers of deterioration, while complementing other repair and protection methods.
The proactive way forward
The strongest maintenance strategies usually move earlier in the deterioration curve. Instead of waiting for visible damage, asset owners can identify vulnerable concrete and act before the repair scope becomes larger and more disruptive.
This approach is especially relevant for councils, highways authorities and infrastructure managers responsible for keeping essential routes safe, serviceable and available.
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How MARKHAM can help
MARKHAM works with infrastructure owners, engineers and contractors to support concrete durability through advanced hydrogel treatments for both new construction and existing assets.
If your asset management team is reviewing bridge, tunnel, culvert or roadside concrete assets, MARKHAM can help assess where hydrogel treatment may fit within your maintenance or asset protection strategy.
Would you like to discuss a specific highway infrastructure challenge? Contact the MARKHAM team for practical guidance on concrete hydrogel treatment options.
Worried about early decay of highway and bridge concrete? Visit our industry-specific page for practical concrete answers.
Drive on! For another viewpoint on this topic, try our on-demand webinar “Concrete – Waterproofing – Durability“.
