Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-09-016
Date: August 2009
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Articles in this Issue

Scanning the Country for Best Practices in Accelerated Construction

After Hurricane Ivan destroyed the I-10 Escambia Bay Bridge in Florida in 2004, the westbound bridge reopened to two-way traffic in 17 days and the eastbound bridge reopened in 63 days, allowing for normal traffic separation on the bridge to resume. In California, meanwhile, the local media declared it "A-Maze-ing" in 2007 when the San Francisco Bay Area's freeway interchange known as "The Maze" completely reopened to traffic 26 days after a gasoline tanker truck fire destroyed the interchange bridge. From coast to coast, accelerated construction practices are cutting project schedules from years to sometimes mere weeks or days, resulting in reduced traffic congestion and delays, increased mobility, and improved customer satisfaction.

Moving Forward with Long Term Bridge Performance

The Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Long Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) program continues to move forward in advancing knowledge of bridge performance. The field work on the program's first pilot project will begin on a bridge on U.S. Route 15 over I-66 in Haymarket, Virginia, in September 2009. Designated under the 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), the 20-year or longer LTBP research program will conduct detailed inspections of, evaluate, and periodically monitor a representative sample of bridges nationwide using proven sensor technology. These bridges will represent many structural types and materials and a variety of conditions, exposures, and locations. The data collected by the program will lead to better understanding of bridge deterioration, improved design methods, and more effective preservation, maintenance, and repair strategies.

Value Engineering: Strategies for Success

The Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Fiscal Year 2008 Value Engineering Accomplishment Report identifies successful practices States across the country are using to enhance and improve their value engineering (VE) programs. In 2008, VE studies and proposals resulted in more than $2 billion in savings on transportation projects.

Highways for LIFE Seeks Stakeholder Input

Tell us what you really think. The Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Highways for LIFE (HfL) program wants your input on the program's future direction. HfL is designed to accelerate the adoption of innovations and new technologies, thereby improving highway safety and quality while reducing congestion caused by construction. To provide feedback on the program, visit www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl and click on "Stakeholder Input Requested."

Conference to Feature Sustainable Technologies for Concrete Pavements

From raw material production to long-term maintenance, the International Conference on Sustainable Concrete Pavements will highlight current practices, challenges, and the future direction of building more sustainable concrete pavements. Scheduled for September 15-17, 2010, in Sacramento, California, the conference is being organized by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and National Concrete Pavement Technology Center as part of the technology transfer efforts of FHWA's Advanced Concrete Pavement Technology Products Program.

Highway Technology Calendar