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Federal Highway Administration / Publications / Focus / December 2007

Accelerating Infrastructure Innovations

Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-08-009
Date: December 2007
Printable Version (.pdf, 0.3 mb)

FHWA's 2008 Accelerated Bridge Construction Conference: On the Fast Track to Success

Accelerating the deployment of innovative new technologies to significantly improve the driving experience of America's motorists is the goal of the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) upcoming 2008 Accelerated Bridge Construction-Highways for Life conference. Scheduled for March 20-21, 2008, in Baltimore, Maryland, the conference will provide a forum to exchange ideas and experiences within the bridge community's public and private sectors.

The conference will focus on case studies from around the world, with special emphasis on prefabricated bridge elements and systems, state-of-the-art equipment, material technologies, and innovative contracting methods. Session topics will include general issues and design, components and systems, seismic and substructure issues, composites, precast bridges, contract and design management, and decks and overlays.

The conference will focus on case studies from around the world, with special emphasis on prefabricated bridge elements and systems, state-of-the-art equipment, material technologies, and innovative contracting methods.

"By the end of the conference, attendees should return to their States with working solutions to reduce onsite construction time, minimize traffic impacts, improve work zone safety, decrease environmental disruption, and make bridges more constructible," says conference cochair Vasant Mistry of FHWA's Office of Bridge Technology. These solutions can also help increase quality and lower life-cycle costs.

Two preconference workshops scheduled for March 19 will highlight the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' (AASHTO) Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) bridge design specifications. The morning workshop,"Steel Bridge Design Using AASHTO/LRFD Specifications (2007 Edition)," will present background information on the LRFD steel design provisions, followed by short examples demonstrating their use. In the afternoon, "Concrete Bridge Design Using AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications (2007 Edition)," will look at LRFD concrete specifications, state-of-the-art concrete design procedures, and design examples.

The conference is cosponsored by 14 State departments of transportation from around the country. More than 400 attendees are expected, including engineers, design professionals, fabricators, contractors, members of academia, and representatives from Federal and local agencies. Registration for both the conference and workshops is free but preregistration is required, as space is limited. For more information or to register, visit www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/accelerated/index.cfm. Information is also available from Vasant Mistry at FHWA, 202-366-4599 (email: vasant.mistry@fhwa.dot.gov).

Figure 7. Photo. The prefabricated superstructure for Rhode Island's Providence River bridge is transported on two barges to the bridge site.
The superstructure for Rhode Island's Providence River bridge was prefabricated a dozen miles away and transported using two barges to the bridge site in August 2006, accelerating the construction process.

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Updated: 06/27/2017
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