Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-06-020
Date: November 2005

Accelerated Bridge Construction 2005

For those designing and constructing bridges around the world, life is moving in the fast lane. Prefabricated bridge elements; materials such as self-consolidating concrete (SCC), high-performance steel, and fiber reinforced polymers; and methods such as rapid staged construction are taking accelerated bridge construction to a new level. The Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Accelerated Bridge Construction 2005 Conference, to be held December 15-16, 2005, in San Diego, California, will highlight all of these technologies and more.

Conference sessions will cover such topics as prefabricated superstructures and substructures, the role of SCC in accelerated bridge construction, accelerated modular construction, and using a decisionmaking framework to select accelerated bridge construction projects. Case studies will provide details on a range of projects, from accelerated bridge construction in Washington State to the use of precast full-depth deck panels in Wisconsin to the rapid construction of four short-span bridges in Alaska.

The conference is designed for State and Federal Government staff, materials suppliers, contractors, fabricators, members of academia, and others with an interest in accelerating bridge design and construction. "The objective of this conference is to provide a forum for the exchange of bridge research results and technical information on design, fabrication, construction, repair, replacement, and maintenance of bridges, with an emphasis on accelerated bridge construction," says Vasant Mistry of FHWA.

Two related workshops will be held on December 14, prior to the start of the conference. "Steel Bridge Design Using American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' (AASHTO) Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) Specifications" will be held in the morning, followed by "Concrete Bridge Design Using AASHTO/LRFD Specifications."

For more information about the conference and related workshops or to register, visit www.acceleratedbridge.com. Information is also available from Roland Nimis at FHWA, 415-744-2653 (email: roland.nimis@fhwa.dot.gov), or Vasant Mistry at FHWA, 202-366-4599 (email: vasant.mistry@fhwa.dot.gov).

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