Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil - Integrated Bridge System
Ohkay Owingeh Tribe - The project will accelerate construction of a small, two-lane bridge using of Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) abutments and Pre-fabricated Bridge Elements and Systems (PBES). ($200,000)
Assiniboine Sioux Tribes - Rocky Mountain Tribal CORS Project ($325,000)
No recent activity.
Innovator
Date
Innovations
Project
07/01/16
Construction Manager/General Contractor
The Pueblo of Acoma is using the construction manager/general contractor method to accelerate construction on nine transportation improvement projects in Acomita Village, New Mexico, while delivering the projects under budget and enhancing quality. The projects include road stabilization, intersection safety improvements, bridge replacements, road maintenance plan development and a highway reconstruction that accommodates biking and walking paths.
Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil - Integrated Bridge System
Among the GRS-IBS projects that have received funding from FHWA’s Accelerated Innovation Deployment Demonstration program is the White Swan Bridge replacement. An Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo road crew did the work, replacing the 60-foot span near Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2015. The bridge over a drainage basin flooded several times in the past decade, so the tribal council chose GRS-IBS construction over rehabilitation to ensure a long-term fix for the structure, said Christy Mermejo, director of the Ohkay Owingeh Public Works Department. Benefits of using GRS-IBS instead of conventional technology included shorter construction time–two versus four-and-a-half months–and lower project cost–less than half.
Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil - Integrated Bridge System
An Every Day Counts showcase on geosynthetic reinforced soil integrated bridge systems drew more than 100 transportation professionals to Kay County, Oklahoma, to see the time- and money-saving technology in action. The Kaw Nation and Kay County used GRS-IBS on four of seven bridges they replaced over Dry Creek in Blackwell. Showcase participants–from tribal nations, state and county governments, federal agencies and universities–learned about the technology and the bridge project in a classroom session before visiting a work site to observe GRS-IBS construction.
Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil - Integrated Bridge System
The Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo in New Mexico has trained staff in using geosynthetic reinforced soil-integrated bridge system technology to reconstruct small structures in its inventory. Ohkay Owingeh workers are replacing a 60-foot span with GRS-IBS using an Accelerated Innovation Deployment Demonstration grant and Tribal Transportation Program funds. To prepare for the project, Ohkay Owingeh staff immersed themselves in FHWA GRS-IBS guidance and attended a 2014 showcase in Blackwell, Oklahoma, at which the Kaw Nation and Kay County demonstrated GRS-IBS construction.
Construction Manager/ General Contractor, Accelerated Bridge Construction
The Gila River Indian Community Department of Transportation has awarded its first construction manager/general contractor contract. Located near Phoenix, Ariz., the project will replace the Gila River Bridge on Route 7. The Gila River Indian Community received a second Strategic Highway Research Program award to use accelerated bridge construction on the project. The CM/GC, designer and Gila River Indian Community staff will convert the traditional bridge design to ABC to cut on-site construction and road closure time and improve bridge quality. The original design called for a 6-mile detour for six months, but using ABC methods will allow crews to replace the bridge in weeks.
