Formtex combats aggressive environment and maintains concrete

Formtex has recently been specified to ensure high quality and long durability of the concrete used for a 36 km long bridge.

Formtex® is easy to shape and install and is therefore suitable for the round shape of the concrete elements.

The bridge is being constructed across the bay between Kuwait City and the Subiyah region. Fibertex Nonwovens from Aalbord has been chosen to supply the product for the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway.

The USD 100 billion development project will connect Kuwait City with Madinat al-Hareer (Silk City). The project comprises onshore facilities, a 27 km causeway as well as a beautiful elevated bridge with a 200 m wide and 23 m tall passage. The bridge will reduce the distance between Kuwait City and the Subiyah region from 104 to 36 km.

However, the bridge will be subject to a harsh environment with salt water, high temperatures and increased CO2 levels in the air. Therefore, Design-Build-Operate, who carried out the project, chose Formtex as the solution.

The 60 m long and 25 m wide bridge spans are stored and left to set in the desert before being transported to the bay.

Mikael Moller, Product Manager at Fibertex Nonwovens explains: “This means the concrete achieves the best durability, while at the same time minimising maintenance.”

Fibertex Nonwovens is supplying a total of 1,500, 000 m2 of Formtex for use in the casting of both bridge pillars and bridge spans. Formtex is used for the casting of the actual concrete elements. The Formtex CPF Linear drains water from the structures and thereby reduces the water/cement ration of the concrete.

Therefore, the concrete elements feature a smooth and even surface without blowholes. The concrete surface is strong and able to withstand impacts from sand and salt water. 

Mikael adds: “We’ve spent a lot of time in Kuwait consulting, testing and not least training the contractor in the application of Formtex in practice. Documented results and the high service level have proved that Formtex is the best solution in direct competition with other solutions and other suppliers.”