June 27, 2024
Innovation of the Month: Enhancing Performance with Internally Cured Concrete
Bridge owners and engineers can be rightfully apprehensive about trying new technologies. They need information about the current state of practice and in-service data before making decisions to proceed to implementation. The Enhancing Performance with Internally Cured Concrete (EPIC2) initiative understands this need and created a curated database of EPIC2 bridge decks, now available on InfoBridge. The initial launch includes over 110 internally cured concrete decks confirmed to be in service across 16 States. Users can browse all available data on the selected bridges, including National Bridge Inventory (NBI) and National Bridge Element (NBE) data for bridges with internally cured concrete bridge decks.
The database allows owners, researchers, and the public to track the implementation and impact of internally cured concrete on the condition of our bridge decks. It also provides stakeholders the ability to monitor the nationwide adoption of the new technology. Using the built-in performance history tools, the impact of the EPIC2 technology can easily be quantified, helping to demonstrate how the new technology has been used as a tool to maintain a state of good repair in bridge decks since its first use in 2008.
The state of bridge decks have continued to improve since ICC usage began in 2008. (Credit: FHWA)
The EPIC2 team will continue to add bridges to this database as they are confirmed, providing an up-to-date, accurate picture of the state of implementation for this innovation. While only time can tell whether the mission of enhancing performance with internally cured concrete can be achieved, this new database puts the tools in place to see it as it happens.
To learn more about how your agency can benefit from or implement ICC, visit the enhancing performance with internally cured concrete (EPIC2) team’s webpage. Subscribe to EPIC2 email updates to stay informed, or contact Tim Barrett, FHWA Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, or Mike Praul, FHWA Office of Infrastructure.
Access EPIC2 data in the InfoBridge portal by clicking on data, then “special projects” in the left navigational column.Iowa Uses Virtual Public Involvement to Meet NEPA Requirements
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires an agency look at the environmental consequences of a proposed action before implementing that action and requires public hearings to inform the public about the planned action and give an opportunity for feedback and questions. FHWA released a Virtual Public Involvement Practices in NEPA report summarizing eight case studies that explored potential approaches to virtual public involvement (VPI) in the NEPA process. One State featured in this report was Iowa.
The Black Hawk Bridge project replaced a bridge built in 1931 and a feasibility study identified three potential alternatives for the replacement. The Iowa Department of Transportation hosted a live, virtual public hearing for the project and additionally an “at your own pace” public hearing that was available to the public for approximately two weeks afterwards. The DOT used its proprietary Public Involvement Management Application (PIMA) to register attendees, track public involvement activities, public meeting and hearing participants, and comments on the project.
During the meeting, the DOT played videos outlining the project overview, project alternatives, project background, and recent updates. Then, the project team held a live Q&A session which answered pre-collected and live submissions. The “at your own pace” event provided the content shown during the live event on an on-demand basis.
More than 100 people attended the live event, including a group of senior citizens who watched together in a meeting room. The Iowa DOT used geotargeted social media advertising to reach people in the target area in addition to more traditional means such as newspaper ads, direct mailings, and flyers.
The event generated more public comments than traditional meetings and those comments were more specific, directly relating to the project. Learn more about the meetings, benefits, challenges, and lessons learned in the specific case study.
To learn more about VPI, please contact Mack Frost, FHWA Office of Planning, Stewardship & Oversight, or Robert Washington, FHWA Office of Project Development & Environmental Review.
Funding available for Advanced Digital Construction Management Systems (ADCMS)
On May 30th, 2024, FHWA announced the availability of up to $17 million each for FY2024, FY2025 and FY2026 ADCMS grants.
The ADCMS Program was created in Section 13006 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to promote, implement, deploy, demonstrate, showcase, support, and document the application of ADCMS, practices, performance, and benefits. FHWA will award up to $17 million in ADCMS Program funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 and up to $17 million each for FYs 2025, and 2026 in future announcements. The actual amount available to be awarded will be subject to the availability of funds. Applications for FY 2024 funds must be received by July 30, 2024, at 11:59 p.m., EDT.
Please note that applicants for this grant are limited to State DOTs, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. We are encouraging the State DOTs to partner with LPAs and private entities, but will want the State DOT as the recipient with funding allocated through FMIS.
More information on this NOFO and the ADCMS Program can be found at: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/construction/ADCMS/.
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About EDC
Every Day Counts, a State-based initiative of the Federal Highway Administration's Office of Innovation and Workforce Solutions, works with State, local, and privatesector partners to encourage the adoption of proven and underutilized technologies to deliver transportation projects more efficiently, enhance safety forall users, support a sustainable and resilient infrastructure, and incorporate equity inproject planning and delivery.
EDC News is a weekly publication highlighting successful EDC innovation deployments across the country.
EDC News is published weekly by the FHWA Center for Accelerating Innovation.
Disclaimer: The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers’ names appear in this document only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document. They are included for informational purposes only and are not intended to reflect a preference, approval, or endorsement of any one product or entity.
Except for the statutes and regulations cited, the contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the States or the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide information regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.
Recommended Citation:
U.S Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration
EDC News; June 27, 2024
Washington, DC
