The 24.6 foot Onion Ditch Bridge utilised STRUXURE building material from AXION International Holdings, which is made from 80% post-consumer plastics such as detergent bottles, shampoo bottles and milk jugs, and 20% of car bumpers and dashboards.
STRUXURE was specified for its performance, longevity, and sustainable design. STRUXURE bridges are engineered from AXION’s patented, 100%-recycled plastic formulation, which makes the structural composite material inert and non-resistant to rot or moisture. The formulation is also claimed to non-resistant to insect infestation, making it suitable in harsh environments. The environmental benefit of using 100% recycled materials was also a major factor, which was in-line with the Logan County community’s goal of being a zero-waste county by 2020.
Reportedly, 80% of the cost of the Onion Ditch Bridge was paid for by the Federal Innovative Bridge Research and Deployment Program, which provides funding for projects that demonstrate innovative accelerated bridge design and construction technology, and the application of innovative material technology.
The Onion Ditch Bridge is also the longest span bridge made from 100% recycled plastic materials in North America and is only the second bridge of its kind on a public road, following one built using STRUXURE in York, Maine. The bridge opened on 29 May 2013.
