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The Departments of the Interior and Agriculture will invest $2.8 billion this year in critical deferred maintenance projects, transportation improvements and recreation infrastructure for national parks, wildlife refuges and recreation areas. With park visits on the rise, engineers are specifying bridges, boardwalks, sidewalks and trails that can support ambulance and maintenance vehicles. To meet this requirement, Creative Composites Group (CCG, Alum Bank, Pa., U.S.) has introduced its new pultruded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) H-5 SuperDeck Lite deck profile.

The composite manufacturer engineered to AASHTO H-5 standards for uniform live loads and vehicles weighing 10,000 lbs (8,000-lb and 2,000-lb axles with a minimum 72" wheel base). Produced in the U.S. at an ISO 9001:2015-compliant facility, SuperDeck Lite is corrosion and rot-resistant, environmentally sustainable and offers what CCG says is the lowest lifetime cost of ownership. Easy to carry, drill and cut, SuperDeck Lite pultruded deck profiles are lighter than newly treated lumber and offer fast installation in remote areas. CCG also developed deck attachments for topdown construction or for blind-bolted connections.

“Traditionally, park trail bridges and pedestrian access structures have used treated timber decks,” Dustin Troutman, director of product development for CCG, says. “Agencies are telling us that they are only getting about 10 years of performance life out of treated lumber. It’s difficult to assess the structural integrity of wood decking for supporting a 10,000-pound vehicle as it ages and begins to rot and decay. A large number of national parks don’t want to use treated wood because the preservatives leach into the environment.”

SuperDeck Lite is available in standard isophthalic polyester and vinyl ester resin systems with a fire-retardant option. Aesthetically pleasing, the product is designed to blend with its surroundings and is available in slate gray, olive green and beige. An ADA-compliant anti-skid surface enhances safety.