24 State DOTs View Accelerated Bridge Construction Demo in Nevada

Officials from two dozen state transportation departments gathered Tuesday in Mesquite, Nevada, to watch the Nevada Department of Transportation put a new bridge in place on Interstate 15 with new technologies that allowed for faster completion of the project, resulting in less congestion for travelers.By using an innovative method known as “Accelerated Bridge Construction,” workers used prefabricated elements to quickly assemble the bridge and slide it into place during off-peak travel times to minimize the time drivers would face delays due to construction. (Several states have used this process including the Utah Department of Transportation, which is featured in a new Transportation TV video released Wednesday by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. The video showcases UDOT’s cutting-edge solutions to deliver a 24-mile, $1.7 billion interstate improvement faster, safer, and cheaper — see related story.)

NDOT completed this project without restricting traffic on I-15, reducing impacts to freight, which accounts for 25% of traffic on this corridor. The $21 million project interchange improvement will improve safety, travel, and access by reconstructing the existing I-15 West Mesquite exit.

Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez participated in the demonstration to learn how the advancements could benefit other states.

“By highlighting key innovations, we’re helping keep traffic moving as smoothly as possible, which lets people spend less time in their cars and more time doing things they enjoy,” Mendez said in a statement.

Through its Highways for Life program, the Federal Highway Administration and NDOT partnered to host the Mesquite demonstration to share best practices with transportation representatives from nearly half the states.

Highways for Life works with the highway industry to promote innovations that improve safety during and after construction, reduce congestion caused by construction, and improve the quality of the highway infrastructure. The program is especially focused on implementing technologies more quickly to help states deliver long-lasting infrastructure with minimized impact to the traveling public.

More information is available from FHWA at www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl.