Louisiana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Virginia are each receiving funding of between US$250,000 and US$400,000 towards the cost of a project that will use one or more of the techniques promoted by the Innovative Bridge Research & Deployment (IBRD) programme. IBRD promotes more widespread use of effective and beneficial technologies and applications that are not common practice and encourages states to use these technologies.
Louisiana will be using accelerated bridge construction and geosynthetic reinforced soil abutments on a project; New Hampshire will adopt prefabricated bridge elements and systems; Oregon will use high-performance A1010 structural steel; Pennsylvania will use self-propelled modular transport and Virginia will replace conventional steel with carbon fibre composite cables on a crossing.
“There are many benefits to advancing new construction and repair techniques like these,” said Foxx. “From shorter work-related traffic tie-ups to roads and bridges that last longer, grants like these have the potential to help drivers everywhere.”
