Changes to bridge project reviews in US will speed repairs

According to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), changes in the way the US Government reviews bridge projects could speed repairs. ARTBA has long-advocated this change, which could save US taxpayers an estimated US$78 million and reduce wait times for repair projects on more than 196,000 bridges in the country. The decision by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) will allow the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to streamline the historic preservation proces
December 13, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
According to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), changes in the way the 908 US Government reviews bridge projects could speed repairs. ARTBA has long-advocated this change, which could save US taxpayers an estimated US$78 million and reduce wait times for repair projects on more than 196,000 bridges in the country. The decision by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) will allow the 2410 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to streamline the historic preservation process for concrete and steel bridges built after 1945. This will allow the projects to go through the regulatory review process as a group, rather than individually. ARTBA had supported this change when first proposed, noting that the approach is similar to how the agency dealt with historic preservation issues impacting rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Interstate Highway System (IHS). At that time, ARTBA similarly supported exempting large portions of the IHS from historic preservation regulations by identifying areas with historic value beforehand. ARTBA said the new review process, “…recognises while there will certainly be instances where active steps to preserve historical portions of the bridges will be necessary, the majority of bridge improvements in this class will not affect anything of historical significance.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • ARTBA calls for transport investment in US
    February 29, 2012
    A new survey of contractors carrying out transportation projects in the US offers little encouragement for the state of the market at present.
    Read More
  • Review sheds light on council switch off
    April 23, 2012
    A UK local authority highways chief has pledged not to introduce a blanket night time switch off of street lighting in one English county following an in depth review of the operation. But Staffordshire County Council says it will work with any parish council that would like to reduce some of its lighting overnight, as long as the move is supported by the community. The review also revealed that US$12.9million could be saved over the next 16 years by installing hi-tech dimming equipment in the columns whic
    Read More
  • East End Crossing Project—Availability payment P3 in action
    July 14, 2017
    Indiana exercised its authority to use a P3 contract when it partnered with Kentucky for new bridges across the Ohio River. Barney Allison and John Smolen* explain the groundbreaking availability payment deal. Earlier this year, traffic began rolling over the new tolled Lewis and Clark Bridge spanning the Ohio River from northern Kentucky to southern Indiana. The cable-stayed bridge is part of the award-winning Ohio Bridges Project to untangle traffic within the greater metropolitan area of Louisville, Kent
    Read More
  • Safety measures aid workzone accident reduction
    February 20, 2012
    Everyone connected with the highway industry is involved in the efforts to cut down the number of work zone accidents. Patrick Smith reports. A few months ago, as road work resumed on America's highways and bridges, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood called on drivers to use extra caution in work zones. At the same time he commended the success in reducing overall roadway fatalities in each of the last seven years.
    Read More

Highlighted Content