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Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations

Report
This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information
Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-06-072
Date: March 2006

Multiyear Plan for Bridge and Tunnel Security Research, Development, and Deployment

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FOREWORD

Protecting critical infrastructure against terrorist events is a need imposed on us by the events of September 11, 2001.

Although the transportation community has always responded to natural hazards, and there are procedures in place to design for and handle these, managing for terrorist events presents a new challenge. Transportation is essential for mobility and commerce, and it plays a critical role in times of crisis. Our highways are essential for evacuation, and in the response and recovery effort. However, our highways are also vulnerable, and can be used by terrorists as a means to carry out an attack. Because the challenge is tremendous, the Federal Highway Administration has been proactive by reaching out to stakeholders to identify critical gaps and needs. This has been accomplished through several forums as presented in this report. The input provided by experts in the field of bridge engineering and others has been evaluated and a program proposed to design highway bridges and tunnels for security.

Gary Henderson, Director

Office of Infrastructure

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 the use of the information contained in this document.

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

Quality Assurance Statement

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.

Technical Report Documentation Page

1. Report No.

FHWA-HRT-06-072

2. Government Accession No. 3 Recipient's Catalog No.
4. Title and Subtitle

Multiyear Plan for Bridge and Tunnel Security Research, Development, and Deployment

5. Report Date

March 2006

6. Performing Organization Code
7. Author(s)

Sheila Rimal Duwadi, P.E., and Steven B. Chase, Ph.D.

8. Performing Organization Report No.

 

9. Performing Organization Name and Address

Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Federal Highway Administration
6300 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22101-2296

10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

11. Contract or Grant No.
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Federal Highway Administration
6300 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22101-2296

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

Final Report

May 2002 - June 2005

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

HRDI-07

15. Supplementary Notes
16. Abstract

Transportation is identified as one of the critical infrastructures under Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 7. It is essential for mobility and commerce, and plays a critical role in times of crisis. Our highways are essential for evacuation, and in the response and recovery effort. We have approximately 600,000 bridges and 300 tunnels on the highway network and many of these can be considered as being critical structures and/or on essential corridors. A damaged bridge or tunnel has an enormous impact on a city, a region, and possibly the Nation. Although the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has always been active in conducting research and development to mitigate natural hazards such as flooding and scour, earthquakes, wind, and wind-induced events, designing for security is a new task. Because the challenge is tremendous, FHWA has led multiple outreach sessions to identify needs and gaps. This input provided by experts in the field of bridge engineering and others has been evaluated and a program has been proposed to design highway bridges and tunnels for security.

17. Key Words

Security, bridges, tunnels.

18. Distribution Statement

No restrictions. This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161.

19. Security Classification
(of this report)

Unclassified

20. Security Classification
(of this page)

Unclassified

21. No. of Pages

59

22. Price
Form DOT F 1700.7 Reproduction of completed page authorized

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

SECTION 1: Development of a Multiyear Program

SECTION 2: Needs Assessment, Blue Ribbon Panel, and the R&D Security Workshop

BACKGROUND

Needs Assessment

Blue Ribbon Panel

R&D Security Workshop

RESULTS

SECTION 3: Current Practice and Gaps in Knowledge

SECTION 4: National Plan for R&D in Support of Critical Infrastructure Protection

SECTION 5: Proposed FHWA Multiyear Program

STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS

RESEARCH PROGRAM GOALS

Risk and Vulnerability Assessment

System Analysis and Design

Improved Materials

Prevention, Detection, and Surveillance

Post-Event Assessment

Repair and Restoration

Evaluation and Training

TIE-IN TO THE NATIONAL CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION R&D PLAN

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Risk and Vulnerability Assessment

System Analysis and Design

Material Performance

Prevention, Monitoring, Detection, and Surveillance

Post-Event Assessment

Repair and Restoration

SECTION 6: Summary

Appendix A Research Needs From Needs Assessment

Risk and Vulnerability Assessment

Design and Analysis

Prevention, Detection, and Surveillance

Post-Event Assessment

Repair and Restoration

Evaluation and Training

Others

Appendix B Recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Panel for Bridge and Tunnel Security

OVERARCHING RECOMMENDATIONS

Institutional Recommendations

Technical Recommendations

Fiscal Recommendations

Research and Development Recommendations

Appendix C Results from the Security Workshop

Reducing the Vulnerability of the Nation's Highway Systems

Reducing the Risk of a Highway System Being Used as a Means to Attack

Improving the Utility of the Highway Systems to Respond to and Recover From an Attack

References

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Relationship between NCIP R&D theme areas and FHWA strategic focus areas

Table 2: Research studies

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Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center | 6300 Georgetown Pike | McLean, VA | 22101