FHWA 17-09
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Contact: Nancy Singer, Tel: 202-366-0660
U.S. Transportation Secretary Announces $5.2 Million
For Innovative Highway Bridge Improvements in 14 States
WASHINGTON – U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced more than $5.2 million in grants to 14 states to promote the use of innovative technologies in highway bridge construction and repair.
“Advanced bridge construction and repair techniques cut construction time and repair costs, and ultimately reduce traffic delays,” said Secretary LaHood. “These funds will be spent on improvements that ultimately offer a better experience for our nation’s drivers.”
The Innovative Bridge Research and Deployment (IBRD) program, administered by the Federal Highway Administration, promotes more widespread use of effective and beneficial technologies and applications that are not common practice and encourages states to use these technologies Previous grants, for example, have funded bridge prefabrication projects in which parts are built off-site and then placed onto a bridge. Utilizing prefabrication strategies saves drivers countless hours of congestion caused by prolonged bridge work.
The program was authorized by the “Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users” (SAFETEA-LU) legislation to promote innovative design, materials and methods that improve construction and repair of the nation’s highway bridges.
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Editor's note: A table listing the date, location and amount of each bridge project is attached.
Innovative Bridge Research and Deployment Program Funds - Summary By State
State |
City/County |
Bridge |
Innovation |
Amount |
California |
Nevada |
Indian Springs Under Crossing, I-80 |
High-performance concrete to control cracking and increase durability of bridge deck |
$270,000 |
California |
Los Angeles |
Slide Canyon Bridge on State Route 2 |
High-performance materials to improve durability and strength of bridge deck |
$200,000 |
Hawaii |
Maui |
Kahoma Stream Bridge on Lahaina By-Pass Road |
Sensors to monitor bridge conditions such as deterioration |
$350,000 |
Idaho |
Bonner |
SH 200 Bridge over Trestle Creek |
Precast bridge elements to accelerate construction |
$150,000 |
Iowa |
Pottawattamie |
US 6 and Iowa 192 over UP & CC Railroad city streets and Perry Creek Conduit |
Infuse and strengthen soil with concrete before drilling |
$400,000 |
Kentucky |
Franklin |
Indian Gap Road over Camp Pleasant Branch |
Self-consolidating concrete that spreads evenly on its own and needs less equipment and labor |
$255,000 |
Kentucky |
Mason |
KY11 over CSX RR and Strodes Run Pike |
Fiber materials that strengthen and penetrate steel to prevent cracking |
$210,000 |
Louisiana |
Natchitoches |
LA 6, Red River at Grand Ecore Bridge |
Sensor system to monitor the “live load” or carrying capacity of the bridge |
$250,000 |
Louisiana |
Caddo |
I-49 over Dooley Bayou |
Geosynthetic plastic material used to reinforce soil |
$250,000 |
Louisiana |
Caddo |
I-49 over Dooley Bayou |
Positioning slabs above the piers to protect from water the “expansion joints” that adjust to bridge movement |
$270,000 |
Michigan |
Calhoun |
1-94 EB & WB over Riverside Drive |
Chemicals to change the characteristics of steel bars to resist corrosion |
$400,000 |
Michigan |
Kalamazoo |
Parkview over US-131/S01 |
Precast bridge elements to accelerate construction |
$80,000 |
Minnesota |
Stearns |
Bridges over the Canadian Pacific RR |
Comparative study of the types of steel bars most resistant to corrosion |
$300,000 |
North Carolina |
Buncombe |
NC 81 (Biltmore Ave.) over Swannanoa River |
Precast bridge elements to accelerate construction |
$110,000 |
Oregon |
Clatsop |
Williamson River, Highway 422 and Bridge Creek, Highway 41 R/W |
Self-curing concrete that sets on its own with no moisture application, saving time and labor |
$350,000 |
Oregon |
Clatsop |
US30 at Mill Creek |
High-performance steel that is highly resistant to corrosion |
$400,000 |
South Carolina |
Horry |
State Road S-31 Bridge over Waccamaw River Swamp |
Precast bridge connections designed for seismic regions |
$300,000 |
Utah |
Summit |
I-80 at Summit Park Crossing |
Light-weight epoxy overlay to seal the deck |
$300,000 |
Virginia |
Campbell |
Bridge on Route 712 over Route 29 |
Self-consolidating concrete that spreads evenly on its own and needs less equipment and labor |
$250,000 |
Washington |
Yakima |
Tieton River Bridge on US Highway 12 |
Self-consolidating concrete that spreads evenly on its own and needs less equipment and labor |
$110,000 |