AS THE ASSISTANT RESIDENT ENGINEER AT ODOT, STEVE WAS ASSIGNED TO MANAGE THE BIG CREEK BRIDGE CATHODIC PROTECTION PROJECT, WHICH INVOLVED REMOVING THE EXISTING ZINC COATING AND PREPARING THE CONCRETE AND REBAR FOR A NEW "ROLL-ON" ZINC COATING SYSTEM THAT ODOT WAS PILOTING. THE CONTRACT CALLED FOR HIGH-PRESSURE WATER TO REMOVE THE EXISTING ZINC, ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR SEALED CONTAINMENT AND FRESH AIR SUPPLY SYSTEMS.

WHEN THE HIGH-PRESSURE WATER SYSTEM FAILED TO REMOVE THE ZINC COATING AS EXPECTED, STEVE PARTNERED WITH MOWAT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY TO PILOT SEVERAL WET-ABRASIVE BLASTING METHODS. THEY SUCCESSFULLY IDENTIFIED A NEW REMOVAL APPROACH THAT WORKED WITHIN THE EXISTING CONTAINMENT SETUP AND MAINTAINED A PRODUCTION RATE THAT KEPT THE PROJECT ON SCHEDULE.