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Federal Highway Administration / Publications / Focus / November 2000

Accelerating Infrastructure Innovations

Publication Number: FHWA-RD-00-063
Date: November 2000

In Brief

An upcoming International Symposium on Transportation Technology Transfer will bring together transportation professionals from around the world to discuss their advances and experiences in technology transfer practices and techniques. The symposium will be held July 29-August 2, 2001, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Program themes include funding and sustaining technology transfer centers and programs, marketing and promoting the transfer of technology, and sharing information resources. The symposium is being sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Local Technical Assistance Program, World Road Association, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Transportation Research Board, and Pan-American Institute of Highways.

For more information, contact the Office of International Programs at FHWA, 202-366-9636 (fax: 202-366-9626; email: 2001symposium@fhwa.dot.gov; Web: www.international.fhwa.dot.gov).

FHWA has launched a new program dedicated to researching and implementing lithium-based technologies for the mitigation of alkali-silica reactivity (ASR) in portland cement concrete. To lead this effort, an expert panel that includes representatives from FHWA, State departments of transportation (DOT), academia, the lithium and cement industries, and the Canadian government has been formed.

The addition of lithium-based admixtures to new concrete mixtures can significantly reduce the expansion associated with ASR, which can cause cracks, spalling, and other damage. Applying lithium to existing concrete affected by ASR can also reduce further damage to the pavement or structure. With the costs of lithium use having fallen and its history of effectiveness more established, the expert panel views the technology as one poised for implementation.

To demonstrate the benefit of lithium-based technology to State highway agencies and to further document field performance of the technology, FHWA will be funding lithium field implementation trial studies through its division offices. FHWA staff and members of the expert panel are currently reviewing proposals submitted by States, with the trial studies expected to begin later this fiscal year.

For more information on the trial studies or the use of lithium technology, contact Fred Faridazar at FHWA, 202-493-3076 (email: fred.faridazar@fhwa.dot.gov).

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Updated: 06/27/2017
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