Highway Infrastructure

The nation's highway system serves major population centers, international border crossings, intermodal transportation facilities, and major travel destinations. The condition of this system can affect wear and tear on vehicles, fuel consumption, travel time, congestion, and comfort, as well as public safety. Improving pavement and bridge condition is also important to the long-term structural integrity and cost effectiveness of the transportation system. The NHS represents just four percent of total highway miles, but carries one trillion, or approximately 43 percent of VMT annually. While steady progress has been made over the past decade, pavement condition on the NHS can still be improved. Drivers in the United States cross deficient bridges more than one billion times each day. While the 115,000 bridges in the NHS are in better condition than the total U.S. inventory of approximately 590,000 bridges, a significant number are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.

The following table depicts the performance measures and goals related to Highway Infrastructure.

HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE – DEPARTMENTAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND GOALS

Performance Measures	Modal Administration	FY 2001 Actual	FY 2002 Actual	FY 2003 Actual	FY 2004 Target	FY 2004 Actual	FY 2004 Results
Percentage of travel on the NHS meeting pavement performance standards for acceptable ride	FHWA	90.9 (Target N/A2)	90.6 (Target 92.0)	90.8 1 (Target 92.5)	93.0	90.8 1	Not Met

FY 2004 Results: FHWA did not meet the performance target.

The percent of pavement on the NHS with acceptable ride quality (International Roughness Index (IRI) 170 inches per mile or less) was 90.6 percent in 2002 (the most current data), primarily because a small number of states with significant total VMT reported deteriorating pavement conditions. Two of these states reported significant and consistently deteriorating pavement conditions over the last four years. The travel on the NHS facilities with a reported IRI of 95 percent or less (good condition) increased from 49.3 percent to 50.0 percent in 2002. This is compared to 42.8 percent reported in 1998. FY 2003 results will be available later this year. Increased travel on smooth roads also indicates improved pavement condition. The goal is to reach a target of 95 percent of vehicle miles traveled on NHS pavements with acceptable ride quality by 2008.

The following table depicts the FHWA supplemental performance measures and goals related to Highway Infrastructure.

HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE – FHWA SUPPLEMENTAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND GOALS

Performance Measures	FY 2001 Actual	FY 2002 Actual	FY 2003 Actual	FY 2004 Target	FY 2004 Actual	FY 2004 Results
Percent of deck area on NHS deficient bridges for all average daily trips (ADT)	30.6 (Target .N/A1)	29.9 (Target 28.6)	30.2 (Target 27.5)	26.4	N/A 1
Miles of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) completed	2,526 (Target 2,520)	2,571 (Target 2,594)	2,608 (Target 2,594)	2,631	2,645	Met

FY 2004 Results: FHWA met the performance target for miles of Appalachian Development Highway System completed. Data on percent of NHS deficient bridges is not yet available.

HWA

Use of new pavement materials and bridge designs improve durability of bridges.

FHWA initiated a series of pavement smoothness workshops for the key states that most affect the pavement condition target. Site reviews of pavement production quality assurance systems were also performed in four states. With the states, FHWA introduced a new pavement design guide and conducted 19 additional workshops on various pavement and materials related technologies. Finally, FHWA's asphalt and concrete mobile laboratory visited 15 states to offer technical assistance.

The percentage of deck area on deficient bridges on the NHS declined from 32.6 percent in 1998 to 30.2 percent in 2003. FHWA made significant progress toward the implementation of high performance materials to ensure more durable bridges with 42 states using high performance steel and 44 states using high performance concrete in bridges. FHWA also helped states implement the load resistance and factor design specifications, which provides a more reliable and uniform level of safety for bridges. At least 46 states fully or partially implemented the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) specification for bridges, or are developing LRFD implementation plans.

FHWA's highway bridge and structure Research and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) program activities focused on improved stewardship and management approaches, such as the development and testing of innovative technology for non-destructive evaluation and methodologies for bridge management. A systems approach to design, construction, inspection, and maintenance to assure more reliable, durable bridges was emphasized. A wide variety of activities to assure bridge safety, reliability, and security continued with a particular emphasis on developing techniques to control structural corrosion and prevent other damage.