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Final Report August 2009

Table of Contents

• Introduction
  • Highways for LIFE Demonstration Projects
  • Report Scope and Organization
• Project Overview and Lessons Learned
  • Project Overview
  • Data Collection
  • Economic Analysis
  • Lessons Learned
  • Conclusions
• Project Details
  • Background
  • Project Description
  • Durability
• Data Acquisition and Analysis
  • Safety
  • Construction Congestion
  • Quality
  • User Satisfaction
• Technology Transfer
• Economic Analysis
  • Construction Time
  • Detour
  • Construction Costs
  • User Costs
  • Cost Summary
• Appendix A: Workshop Agenda
• Appendix B: Agenda for Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

List of Figures

• Figure 1. Location map for U.S. 15/29 bridge over Broad Run.
• Figure 2. Existing southbound U.S. 15/29 bridge over Broad Run, looking north.
• Figure 3. U.S. 15/29 bridge over Broad Run section.
• Figure 4. Steel beams for U.S. 15/29 bridge at Coastal Precast Systems precasting yard.
• Figure 5. Steel beams for U.S. 15/29 bridge at Coastal Precast Systems precasting yard.
• Figure 6. Authorized detour route map.
• Figure 7. Removal of part of the existing uperstructure of the U.S. 15/29 bridge.
• Figure 8. Portion of superstructure replaced on the U.S. 15/29 bridge.
• Figure 9. Wingwall modifications on the U.S. 15/29 bridge.
• Figure 10. Pier widening on the U.S. 15/29 bridge.
• Figure 11. U.S. 15/29 bridge approach pavement preparation, looking south toward the bridge.
• Figure 12. Completed U.S. 15/29 bridge over Broad Run, looking south.
• Figure 13. OBSI dual probe system and the SRTT.
• Figure 14. Northbound bridge mean A-weighted sound intensity frequency spectra.
• Figure 15. Southbound bridge mean A–weighted sound intensity frequency spectra.
• Figure 16. Laser profiler mounted behind the test vehicle.
• Figure 17. Mean IRI values.
• Figure 18. Prerehabilitated southbound bridge deck.
• Figure 19. Workshop presenters and participants.
• Figure 20. Workshop presenters, Robert (Bob) Price (left), Khossrow Babaei (right), both from VDOT, and John Morgan (center) from the Flippo Construction Company.

LIST OF TABLES

• Table 1. Node definitions for travel time data collection circuit.
• Table 2. Travel time data in before (no full roadway closure) condition.
• Table 3. Travel time data during full roadway closure conditions.
• Table 4. Comparison of segment travel times, before versus during roadway closure.
• Table 5. Comparison of normal (before) travel times to detour travel times during full roadway closure.
• Table 6. Traffic count comparison during total roadway closure.
• Table 7. U.S. 15/29 bridge capital cost calculation table.

Foreword

The purpose of the Highways for LIFE (HfL) pilot program is to accelerate the use of innovations that improve highway safety and quality while reducing congestion caused by construction. LIFE is an acronym for Longer–lasting highway infrastructure using Innovations to accomplish the Fast construction of Efficient and safe highways and bridges.

Specifically, HfL focuses on speeding up the widespread adoption of proven innovations in the highway community. "Innovations" is an inclusive term used by HfL to encompass technologies, materials, tools, equipment, procedures, specifications, methodologies, processes, and practices used to finance, design, or construct highways. HfL is based on the recognition that innovations are available that, if widely and rapidly implemented, would result in significant benefits to road users and highway agencies.

Although innovations themselves are important, HfL is as much about changing the highway community's culture from one that considers innovation something that only adds to the workload, delays projects, raises costs, or increases risk to one that sees it as an opportunity to provide better highway transportation service. HfL is also an effort to change the way highway community decisionmakers and participants perceive their jobs and the service they provide.

The HfL pilot program, described in Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA–LU) Section 1502, includes funding for demonstration construction projects. By providing incentives for projects, HfL promotes improvements in safety, construction–related congestion, and quality that can be achieved through the use of performance goals and innovations. This report documents one such HfL demonstration project.

Additional information on the HfL program is at www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl.

Notice

This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for its contents or use thereof. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.

The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade and manufacturers' names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the object of the document.

Form DOT F 1700.7 (8–72) Reproduction of completed page authorized

Acknowledgments

The project team would like to acknowledge the invaluable insights and guidance of Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Highways for LIFE Team Leader Byron Lord and Program Coordinators Mary Huie and Kathleen Bergeron, who served as the technical panel on this demonstration project. Their vast knowledge and experience with the various aspects of construction, technology deployment, and technology transfer helped immensely in developing both the approach and the technical matter for this document. The team also is indebted to Utah Department of Transportation engineers Jim McMinimee, Shana Lindsey, Lisa Wilson and Daniel Hsiao and FHWA Division Administrator Butch Waidelich and ITS and Structural Engineer Russ Robertson for their tireless advice, assistance, and coordination during this project.

Abbreviations and Symbols