April 14, 2022
Innovation of the Month: UHPC for Bridge Preservation & Repair
Availability of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) has increased dramatically over the last decade in the U.S. and abroad. This increase is directly associated with UHPC’s growing popularity as an option for construction of the built environment, and the fact that UHPC-class materials are more available and accessible than ever. Today, UHPC materials and products can be procured from multiple commercial material or fabricated product suppliers in the U.S., including prebagged or ready-mix-type products. In most cases, the UHPC mixtures used by commercial suppliers would be effectively considered proprietary in nature.
Repair of existing connections on the Kilgore Road Bridge in Kenockee Township, MI using nonproprietary UHPC. (Credit: Andrew Tai/Sherif El-Tawil, University of Michigan)
Alternatively, some bridge owners have sought to develop their own nonproprietary UHPC mixtures. These mixtures are sometimes referred to as “open-source” if the mix design is openly available on the internet. Nearly 20 States, typically in cooperation with a local university, have also worked toward developing their own UHPC mixtures using local raw ingredients. FHWA also has a tech brief that discusses how to develop nonproprietary UHPC mixtures based on regional ingredients. The primary benefits of nonproprietary UHPC mixtures that are specifically developed for a specific State or agency include lower material costs and enhanced ability to tailor the mixture to the needs of the owner. The direct costs of a nonproprietary mixture may be as much as 50 percent less expensive relative to commercial, proprietary mixes. However, this price does not include other necessary costs, such as research and development, quality control, blending, and packaging.
For more information on UHPC for Bridge Preservation & Repair, contact Zach Haber, FHWA Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, or Justin Ocel, FHWA Resource Center.
Teamwork is Critical to Colorado's TIM Success
In Colorado, a network of teams dedicated to bringing together first responders and transportation agencies have made significant progress in furthering the mission of Next Generation Traffic Incident Management (NextGen TIM). The CO network of 27 teams cover major corridors and regions and range in size and coverage area based on an area’s needs. This ongoing, sustained effort began over a decade ago.
In 2011, the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) attended a FHWA TIM Workshop. A few months later, CSP hosted its first SHRP2 Train the Trainer course and successfully trained over 30 SHRP2 TIM Instructors. A short time later, the first TIM team, based around North I-25, formed after a 58-car pile-up. An after-action report to CSP was the catalyst to teach and train responders together and the effort quickly grew to include CDOT.
Over the next few years, CDOT introduced an incident management program to facilitate coordination and communication of CDOT resources during incident responses and then a statewide TIM Program Coordinator, responsible for integrating TIM principles within CDOT operations. Both also sought to build and improve relationships with local partners and first responders across the State, increase TIM training, and increase maturity of existing TIM programs.
In 2019, all Colorado State Patrol (CSP) Captains were tasked with standing-up TIM Teams in their areas of responsibility. These TIM teams receive support from CDOT and CSP through efforts including hosting annual Colorado TIM conferences, maintaining a dedicated website, monthly newsletters, and regular webinars to share Colorado-specific TIM information.
To learn more about NextGen TIM or the network of Colorado TIM teams advancing the TIM mission, please contact Paul Jodoin or James Austrich, FHWA Office of Operations. Additionally, check out the NextGen TIM Visual Storyboard for more TIM success stories from around the country.
A-GaME Technologies Deliver Tangible ROI for DOTs
In a recent Advanced Geotechnical Methods in Exploration (A-GaME) webinar – Outcomes: “Winning Your A-GaME” – the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD), and Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) shared examples of state projects with winning outcomes. In the webinar, LADOTD shared how the agency used Cone Penetration Testing to troubleshoot unexpected problems with the pile design of a bridge widening project and saved $600,000 by eliminating the need for a new indicator pile. Additionally, DOT&PF shared examples of how electrical resistivity and ground penetrating radar are highly effective in the harsh Alaska conditions.
To learn more about A-GaME, please contact Ben Rivers, FHWA Resource Center, or Silas Nichols, FHWA Office of Infrastructure. Subscribe to the A-GaME newsletter for additional news and webinars.
2022 National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 11-15)
This week is National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) and the theme is Work Zones are a Sign to Slow Down. As roadways are built, maintained, and upgraded with the latest safety features, it is also essential that roadway construction, maintenance and utility zones are safe for workers. NWZAW provides an opportunity for everyone to reflect on how to address the ongoing safety challenges in work zones. For more information about NWZAW, work zone training and other resources, please visit the FHWA-NWZAW webpage and the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse website.
EDC-6 Progress Report Available
The Every Day Counts Round 6 Progress Report #2 is now available. This report describes the seven technologies and practices FHWA is promoting in EDC-6 and summarizes the deployment status of each innovation as of December 2021 and each innovation’s goal for adoption by the end of 2022.
Has your State institutionalized crowdsourcing for advancing operations or used modern communication techniques for virtual public involvement? Is it leading the way with strategic workforce development or e-Ticketing and digital as-builts? Read the report to find out which States are implementing EDC-6 innovations and stay tuned to EDC News for updates and success stories.
Stay Up to Date on the EDC Innovations That Interest You Most
EDC teams are always on the move! If you blink, you could miss out on important webinars, case studies, tools, videos, and more. To never miss information for the EDC innovations that interest you most, visit the subscription page and select the topics you’d like to receive updates on directly from the teams that coordinate them.
Recent bulletins:
Local Aid Support 4/5/22
TOPS 4/4/22
About EDC
Every Day Counts, a state-based initiative of the Federal Highway Administration's Center for Accelerating Innovation, works with state, local and private sector partners to encourage the adoption of proven technologies and innovations to shorten and enhance project delivery.
EDC News is published weekly by the FHWA Center for Accelerating Innovation.
Notice: The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers' names appear in this presentation only because they are considered essential to the objective of the presentation. They are included for informational purposes only and are not intended to reflect a preference, approval, or endorsement of any one product or entity.
Recommended Citation:
U.S Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration
EDC News; April 14, 2022
Washington, DC:
https://doi.org/10.21949/1521836
