Accelerated Bridge Construction: More than just building bridges

Abstract 

Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) is about more than just building bridges.  It is about serving society while addressing a pressing national challenge.  ABC represents a paradigm shift in project planning, procurement, and bridge delivery approach, which elevates mobility, public and worker safety, environmental impact, public health, and reduction in onsite construction activities to a higher priority.  With about 25 percent of the nation’s bridges in need of retrofit or replacement, it is no longer feasible to build bridges using conventional approaches.  The Accelerated Bridge Construction UTC is a Tier 1 Center established under MAP-21 in 2013.  Its objective is to assist in providing the best-accelerated bridge construction solutions through research, workforce development, and technology transfer activities.  This presentation provides an overview of research studies that are currently underway and other studies that need to be carried out in order to make the necessary paradigm shift.  Florida International University, with its partners --Iowa State University, the University of Nevada-Reno, and other organizations, has made significant progress in promoting ABC since becoming a UTC.  However, as is outlined in the presentation, much more work needs to be carried out before ABC is simply replaced with BC.

Sponsored by: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R), University Transportation Centers Program

DISCLAIMER: The views, opinions, findings and conclusions reflected in this presentation are the responsibility of the authors only and do not represent the official policy or position of the USDOT/OST-R, or any State or other entity.

For more information, contact Denise E. Dunn at denise.e.dunn@dot.gov