Collingswood, NY – When the New Jersey DOT proposed a pedestrian bridge as part of a reconstruction plan for Routes 30 and 130 near Camden, city officials were anxious for the improvements to begin. They were also happy to see that brick was the specified finish material. However, hand-set brick was not in the DOT spec; integrally-cast thin brick for cast-in-place concrete was called out, and Scott’s Rim Snap™ product fit the design nicely.

The Collingswood bridge is currently under construction by JPC Group of Philadelphia. According to project manager, John Prince, “This will be the Cadillac model in an area of town that well-deserves an upgrade.” The structure rises to a height of 24 feet over Rt. 130 with alternating ramps to accommodate wheel chairs, strollers and bicycles. “We are testing the limits of Scott’s cast-in brick system by installing the material on 14 different columns that are approximately 3 feet wide and 24 feet tall.” The Rim Snaps™ will be attached to the column forms on all 4 sides (with L-shape brick in the corners) in 8 foot tall sections. The forms will be craned up and over the rebar supports and set in place for the concrete pour. Prince has figured out how to build and lift the forms, as well as how to install the Rim Snap™ product (by using a worker small enough to fit inside the form!). The concern is how many brick may come loose during the lift and set process.

Scott’s representative, Greg Showalter, has faith in the Rim Snap™ template and its grip-hold on the brick. “The rubber gasket provides a strong suction on the brick face and with careful placement of the forms, there should be little to no brick loss.” There will be some patching necessary anyway due to the location of ties in the forms. For these areas, a Styrofoam “brick” block-out is placed over the tie, fitting into the brick pocket. Inserting the foam block-out is quick and simple as the pieces can be cut on site with a razor knife. According to Showalter, the Collingswood Bridge is one of the largest poured-in-place projects using the Rim Snaps to date with 9,000 square feet of vertically cast thin brick. “This is an ideal product for wall and foundation contractors as it allows these guys to answer the demand for brick without adding the labor of a mason.” Greg says he will report back on how well the brick held in the column form installation.

Rim Snaps™ have been used on residential and highway walls, columns and recently on a 4-story parking structure with climbing vertical forms. For more information on how Rim Snaps™ can be incorporated into your residential projects to offer alternatives to the extensive need for brick ledge and mason labor, visit Scott System’s web site at www.scottsystem.com or direct inquiries to Dana Scott at 303-373-2599 or email her at danas@scottsystem.com.