Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-09-013
Date: May 2009

Articles in this Issue

Bridge Preservation: The Time Is Now

New bridge preservation initiatives nationwide are advancing efforts to enhance bridge performance, deter or correct deterioration, extend service life, and increase safety. The goal of a bridge preservation program is to increase the service life of a bridge using cost-effective, timely strategies, without having to reconstruct it. "With today's aging bridges and budgets that cannot keep up with demands, bridge preservation is a key component in maintaining and preserving the Nation's transportation infrastructure," says Ken Jacoby of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

FHWA Webinar Spotlights Advancements in Bridge Inspection

The topic of advancements in bridge inspection drew nearly 200 participants to a bridge inspection Web conference held by the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) National Highway Institute (NHI) on March 11, 2009. The conference was sponsored by NHI Innovations, a free monthly Webinar series held in partnership with FHWA's Highways for LIFE program. Technologies highlighted during the conference included fatigue crack detection using electrochemical fatigue sensors (EFS) and video inspection of bridge decks.

The Fundamentals of Life Cycle Cost Analysis

Get to know the "Fundamentals of Life Cycle Cost Analysis" in the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) new online course. Available through FHWA's National Highway Institute (NHI), this free 6-hour training (Course No. FHWA-NHI-131113) is comprised of two live Web conference presentations and a Web-based independent study module.

Rapid Repair with Precast Concrete Pavement Technology

Two new TechBriefs developed by the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Concrete Pavement Technology Program (CPTP) highlight the innovative use of precast concrete pavement technology to meet the need for rapid pavement repair, rehabilitation, and construction. The precast technology can be used for intermittent repairs or full-scale rehabilitation.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) Updates Available Online

As of May 20, 2009, 50 States and territories have obligated $11,808,759,130 of the $26,810,000,000 of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funding issued for transportation infrastructure. To date, 3,430 transportation projects have been authorized. The latest figures on the obligation of ARRA funds can be found on the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) home page at www.fhwa.dot.gov. More information on ARRA is available at the FHWA ARRA Web site (www.fhwa.dot.gov/economicrecovery).

Highway Technology Calendar