December 3, 2015
Innovation of the Month: Ultra-High Performance Concrete Connections
The Every Day Counts innovation of the month for December is ultra-high performance concrete connections for prefabricated bridge elements. UHPC is an ultra-high strength steel fiber-reinforced concrete that can improve durability and simplify connection details and construction when using prefabricated bridge elements.
Growth in the use of prefabricated bridge components has led to a recognition that robust connection systems are key to a successful bridge project. The Federal Highway Administration’s EDC-3 effort focuses on demonstrating the advantages UHPC offers as an option for connecting prefabricated bridge elements.
The EDC UHPC Connections Innovation Deployment Team offers technical assistance and training, including peer exchanges and workshops. For details, contact Jamal Elkaissi and Mark Leonard, structural engineers at the FHWA Resource Center.
View the EDC Ultra-High Performance Concrete Connections presentation for an overview of UHPC in bridge construction.
Attend the UPHC connections workshop on December 6 and the UHPC presentation on December 8 at the National Accelerated Bridge Construction Conference in Miami, Florida.
Michigan Completes Third Bridge Slide
The Michigan Department of Transportation slid the new M-100 bridge in Potterville into place during the early morning hours of Saturday, November 14. Two pushing cylinders applying 18 tons of force were used to laterally move the 1-million-pound structure 77 feet. Crews connected the approaches to the bridge and reopened M-100 to traffic the next day by 6 p.m., earlier than expected. The M-100 project is Michigan’s third successful bridge slide and the first to use high-capacity steel rollers to perform the move. A time-lapse video shows the bridge slide process.
M-100 bridge slide. Credit: Michigan Department of Transportation
Smarter Work Zone Webinar Features Project Coordination
The seventh webinar in the EDC-3 smarter work zones series focused on project coordination tools to minimize travel delays and enhance safety for road users and workers. The December 2 event provided an overview of the upcoming Project Coordination Guide and examples of how agencies use online tools to collect and share data such as work zone location, duration and expected impact on traffic. View previous webinars in the series to learn about the technology application and project coordination approaches to smarter work zones FHWA is promoting in EDC-3.
