Cone Parking Decks clears inspection, repairs insist

On Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 7 and 8, the Cone Parking Decks underwent a structural inspection. The inspection included a routine maintenance procedure and according to Gary Caton, director of Parking and Transportation Services (PATS), They are structurally safe and there are no serious issues.

There is maintenance construction currently taking place in the parking decks.

After a small piece of concrete fell last summer in Cone Deck one, contractors were hired to inspect the structure for signs of wear. Cone Deck one was built in 1977 and Cone Deck two was added in 1988.

The two parking decks I-beams were pre-cast, meaning they were poured and cured on-site. According to Caton, The beams are designed to flex, but after decades of use they are showing signs of wear.

After the repair of the concrete in Cone Deck one, the ceilings were painted white in both of the Cone parking decks in efforts to lighten the parking deck. After the ceilings were painted, some of the small cracks became visible and PATS called its attention for repair.

Contractors were hired to install U-clamps and other systems to repair the beams. According to Caton, the construction is only scheduled to take place on weekends and breaks, when the parking decks are least full.

Although yearly structural inspections are not necessary, PATS is hoping to begin a maintenance plan where all parking decks are inspected annually.

The last structural inspection of other parking decks on campus was in 2008, however less intensive inspections occur on a weekly basis. Other renovation projects have taken place recently including an overhaul of the lighting systems, which have been switched to greener and more efficient lighting systems.

PATS insures that all parking decks on campus are being well cared for and that they are all structurally sound.

Tags: cone deck, Gary Caton, Jared Green, News, PaTS

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Cone Parking Decks clears inspection, repairs insist