Technology Partnerships

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced the second grant award on June 15, 2009, under the Highways for LIFE Technology Partnerships program's 2008 solicitation. The innovation, Implementation of Full Depth Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) Waffle Bridge Panels, supports Accelerated Bridge Construction techniques across the country and consists of a waffle design modular panel manufactured with UHPC and installed with field cast UHPC joints. The use of prefabrication increases safety by reducing time spent on site, and reduces congestion as the time to complete a redecking can be days instead of the weeks to months necessary for conventional cast-in-place bridge decks.

The UHPC Waffle bridge deck system is applicable to new construction as well as rehabilitation of existing deteriorated bridge decks. The use of this solution for existing bridge rehabilitation not only restores the deck, but also provides opportunities for upgrading the load capacity of existing bridges through increased strength and reduction of deck self weight. The demonstration project in Wapello County, Iowa will validate the panel structural performance, the deck constructability, the field cast joint performance, and the overall bridge deck short and long-term behaviors. The project will also deliver a life cycle cost analysis addressing the viability of production, deployment, and operation of these precast bridge deck panels. The Award amount is $382,971.

The FHWA expects to announce a third round of grants under the Highways for LIFE Program this summer. The program is intended to fund promising prototypes that require further refinement, testing, evaluation and first application in a real-world setting before they would be commercially available.

The prototype must be in late stage development with the proof of concept well established and make a significant contribution to achieving at least one of the Highways for LIFE goals of improving work zone safety, reducing congestion due to construction, improving quality or accelerating construction. Applicable innovation areas include: technologies, materials, tools, equipment, procedures, specifications, methodologies, processes, or practices used in the financing, design or construction of highways or bridges.

• More information on the Implementation of Full Depth Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) Waffle Bridge Panels

2009 Awardees

• Fully Precast Bridge Bents for Use in Seismic Regions. (Berger/Abam Engineers) Prefabricated bridges bents, also known as piers, have not been used in seismic regions because methods of making connections that are both structurally robust and quick to assemble were relatively unknown and not addressed in design specifications. This project will demonstrate a totally precast concrete bridge bent system that can be used in seismic regions. The new technology, to be used on a bridge in Washington State, allows bridge bents to be prefabricated off site, and the segments moved into place, and assembled onto the bridge, greatly reducing construction time and traffic delays. Award amount of $400,397.
  • More information on the Fully Precast Bridge Bents for Use in Seismic Regions

2008 Awardees

In January 2008, five grants were awarded to accelerate the adoption of innovations that have the potential to reduce congestion and improve highway quality and safety. The grants will encourage the use of innovative equipment, materials, practices or processes in the design, construction or financing of highways.

The awards will help the five companies refine and test technologies currently at the prototype stage in a real-world highway setting in partnership with state departments of transportation and local transportation agencies.

• All-Weather Pavement Marking System (3M Company). Wet road conditions make it difficult for drivers to see conventional pavement markings, a situation that is especially hazardous in work zones where lane shifts are common. The All-weather Pavement Marking System incorporates specially designed wet reflective optical materials into pavement marking paint to make it easier for drivers to see markings on wet roads and respond appropriately. 3M will use the grant to adapt its product for cost-effective temporary use in work zones. Award amount: $499,277.

  • More Information on the All-Weather Pavement Marking System

• Intelligent Asphalt Compaction Analyzer (Haskell Lemon Construction Company). Improper compaction during construction is a leading cause of asphalt pavement degradation. The prototype Intelligent Asphalt Compaction analyzer is a device mounted to compaction equipment to provide real-time data so compaction inconsistencies can be remedied while asphalt is still pliable. Replacing the time-consuming manual process currently used will reduce construction time and make pavements last longer. Award amount: $200,000.

  • More Information on the Intelligent Asphalt Compaction Analyzer

• Aggregate Imaging System (Pine Instrument Company). The composition of aggregates used in pavement surfaces affects durability and skid resistance. The Aggregate Imaging System combines hardware that captures real-time digital images of paving material samples, and software that analyzes shape, texture and ratio characteristics of aggregates such as Hot Mix asphalt and hydraulic cement concrete, to improve the speed and accuracy of testing. Award amount: $200,000.

  • More Information on the Aggregate Imaging System

• Automated Pavement Marker Placement System (Stay Alert Safety Services Inc). Applying raised pavement markers manually is time-consuming and dangerous for workers. The prototype device, which can be mounted on standard equipment, will automate the process of reflective marker installation on roads. Initial tests showed the system reduced labor hours, construction time and risk of worker injury. Award amount: $451,660.

  • More Information on the Automated Pavement Marker Placement System

• Asphalt Binder Cracking Device (EZ Asphalt Technology LLC). The way asphalt responds to low temperatures is critical to its performance. The Asphalt Binder Cracking Device provides a simple and reliable method to test the cracking potential at different temperatures of the binders used in asphalt. The device will assist the industry in predicting and preventing asphalt failure due to cracking at low temperatures, extending the life of pavements and reducing the need for patching or repaving. Award amount: $239,386.

  • More information on the Asphalt Binder Cracking Device

FHWA is expected to announce the awards from the August 2008 solicitation in February 2009.

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