Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-07-012
Date: April 2007

Articles in this Issue

New FHWA Program To Combat ASR in Concrete

Preventing and mitigating alkali-silica reactivity (ASR) in portland cement concrete pavements and structures is the focus of a new $10 million Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) initiative. The 4-year ASR program was established and funded by the 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). "This new highway concrete technology program is designed to increase concrete pavement and structure durability and performance and to reduce life cycle costs through the prevention and mitigation of ASR," says Gina Ahlstrom of FHWA's Office of Pavement Technology.

Tools for Training a Qualified Transportation Workforce

New products and courses available from the Transportation Curriculum Coordination Council (TCCC) are giving State and local transportation departments the tools they need to train today's workforce, while simultaneously saving time and money.

New Manuals Offer Guidance on Using and Maintaining FWDs

Find assistance with using and maintaining falling weight deflectometers (FWDs) with two new manuals available from the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program. The LTPP Program Falling Weight Deflectometer Maintenance Manual (Pub. No. FHWA-HRT-05-153) walks users through the process of performing routine periodic maintenance. A companion publication, the updated fourth version of the LTPP Program Manual for Falling Weight Deflectometer Measurements (Pub. No. FHWA-HRT-06-132), provides step-by-step instructions for using LTPP FWD data collection procedures.

Conference To Spotlight New Directions in Asset Management

"New Directions in Asset Management and Economic Analysis" will be the theme at the Seventh National Conference on Transportation Asset Management, to be held November 6-8, 2007, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Building on the success of the six previous national conferences and the progress made across the country in the implementation of asset management practices, this year's event will look at such issues as organizational leadership, management systems, and training and education.

SHRP 2 Accepting Proposals for Renewal Research Projects

The Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) 2 has issued Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for its first series of 2007 projects. SHRP 2's goal is to develop recommended procedures, practices, and applications to advance the Nation's highway system in the key focus areas of safety, renewal, reliability, and capacity (see December 2006 Focus). The new RFPs address renewal, reliability, and capacity.

Highway Technology Calendar