Prefabricated Bridges or Rapid Construction

This paper describes how transportation agencies today face significant challenges to restore highway capacity while enhancing safety through construction work zones. About one-third of our Nation’s bridges are in need of repair or replacement. During the summer road work season, 20 percent of the National Highway System is typically under construction. This translates into 6,400 highway work zones with a corresponding loss of 6,200 lane-miles (10,000 lane-km) in capacity. On a road construction project with a high volume of traffic, the cost of traffic control can be 30 to 50 percent of the construction cost. These costs can be reduced and work zone safety enhanced through the use of accelerated construction methods. Limited available funding and significant construction needs have resulted in initial cost controlling bridge design and construction. In addition to managing costs, owners are now responding to the need to “get in, get out, and stay out” as the advancing age of our highway infrastructure necessitates increased reconstruction. Prefabricated bridge elements and systems, in combination with HPC and accelerated construction requirements in the contracts, help meet the need for rapid bridge construction.