Rapid Bridge Construction - How to Get There
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Rapid Bridge Construction
A full-day workshop was conducted on Wednesday,
May 10, 2006 at the 2006 Concrete Bridge Conference in Reno, Nev.
to develop guidance on what is needed to further implement rapid
bridge construction nationwide.
Click here for a summary
report (PDF).
Rapid Bridge Construction Workshop
 Background
The benefits of accelerated bridge construction are well known.
They include minimized traffic disruption and congestion, improved
work zone safety, and minimized environmental impact. Additionally,
prefabrication can improve constructability, increase quality, and
lower life-cycle costs. As was seen during the 2004 FHWA/AASHTO/NCHRP
Prefabricated Bridge Elements and Systems international scanning
tour, rapid bridge construction is prevalent in urban areas of Europe
and Japan. It has been employed less frequently in the U.S. mainly
because of the lack of knowledge and limitations on contract strategies,
guide specifications, and availability of equipment and specialty
contractors.
Purpose
The purpose of this full-day workshop was to develop guidance on
what is needed to further implement rapid bridge construction nationwide
in each of four topic areas: decision-making process, contracting
strategies, costs, and specifications.
Process
The workshop featured presentations by a panel of experts representing
the Federal Highway Administration, State Departments of Transportation,
contractors and others in the morning, followed by brainstorming
breakout sessions among the participants in the afternoon.
Program Summary and Links to
Power-Point Presentations
Workshop Co-Chairs: Benjamin Tang, Federal Highway
Administration and Mary Lou Ralls, Principal, Ralls Newman, LLC
Morning Panel of Experts Presentations, Part I
Moderator: Benjamin Tang, Principal Structural Engineer, Federal
Highway Administration
- AASHTO Perspective
Ken Hurst, Engineering Manager, State Bridge Office, Kansas Department
of Transportation
- Federal
Bridge Program in SAFETEA-LU
Benjamin Tang, Principal Structural Engineer, Federal Highway
Administration
- Decision-Making
Process
Mary Lou Ralls, Principal, Ralls Newman, LLC
- Contracting
Strategies
Malcolm Kerley, Chair, AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridges and Structures,
and Chief Engineer, Virginia Department of Transportation
- Cost
Harry Capers, Manager, Office of Transportation Security, New
Jersey Department of Transportation
Morning Panel of Experts Presentations, Part II
Moderator: Eugene Calvert, Principal Project Manager, Collier County
Transportation Services Division, Fla.
- Design and
Specifications
Daniel Dorgan, Director, Bridges and Structures, Minnesota Department
of Transportation
- Concrete Industry
Perspective
David Bilow, Director, Engineered Structures, Portland Cement
Association
- General
Contractor Perspective
William Duguay, Traylor Brothers, Inc.
- Specialty
Contractor Perspective
Bill Halsband, Vice President, Business Development, Mammoet
- Specialty Contractor
Perspective
Will Smith, Barnhart Crane and Rigging
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