Monday, July 29, 2002
FHWA 32-02
Contact: Bill Outlaw
Tel.: 202-366-0660
Federal
Highway Administrator Applauds Coordination Among Federal, State Governments and
Private Sector For Reconstruction of I-40 Bridge in Half of Time Projected
Webbers Falls, OK—Federal
Highway Administrator Mary Peters today said the reopening of the I-40 bridge in
eastern Oklahoma in record-setting time – less than half of the six months it
normally takes – was brought about because of the tremendous coordination
between the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of
Transportation and private sector contractors who worked on the bridge.
The I-40 Bridge, which spans the Arkansas River near
Webbers Falls, OK, was struck on the morning of May 26 by a barge that veered
several hundred feet from the river's navigational channel. The impact caused
the collapse of four spans of the bridge, killing 14 people.
“On behalf of President Bush and Secretary Mineta, I
salute the people in the public and private sectors who worked so hard to
restore this vital link in America’s transportation system in record time,”
Peters said at a news conference today to reopen the bridge to traffic.
“The rapid reopening of one of the nation’s busiest
east-west routes will result in the savings of millions of dollars to our
economy and help put the region back on the road to prosperity.”
By reopening the bridge in just more than two months after
the May 26 disaster, Oklahoma DOT set a record for a project of this size and
magnitude.
“The quick response of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and private sector contractors combined with the innovative approaches provided for in the contracting and construction process serve as an example of how our country responds to meet challenges,” Peters said.
Immediately after the accident, the FHWA, an agency of the
U.S. Department of Transportation, provided $3 million in emergency relief funds
to the state as a “down payment” to provide the immediate funding the state
needed to get the planning and design started without delay.
In addition, the FHWA’s Oklahoma Division office provided technical expertise and assistance throughout the rebuilding process, continually assisting the state in the evaluation and implementation of innovative contracting procedures. FHWA also had personnel at the site shortly after the collision and immediately began to evaluate the damage and identify detour routes. The U.S. Coast Guard also assisted in the rescue and recovery efforts immediately following the accident.
The state used both innovative contracting practices and construction techniques to provide additional incentives to enable the contractor to rebuild the bridge in just 65 days, less than half the normal six-month time. The innovative procedures included a modified design-build approach that enabled the design of the replacement structure to be completed in 16 days.
The cost to rebuild the bridge is estimated at $24 million,
including the cost for detours established to handle the I-40 traffic and other
essential repairs. The FHWA will
continue to work with the state to determine eligibility for additional
emergency relief funds.
The federal emergency relief program
reimburses the state for the damage repair work that is already completed and
provides funding for the remaining damage repair work to correct major or
unusual damage to federal-aid highways. In
addition to establishing detours, eligible repair work includes reconstructing
damaged bridges and pavement surfaces, removing slides and debris, and replacing
signs, lighting and guardrails.
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