Register for Oct. 30 Showcase of New Rhode Island Bridge Replacement Using SHRP2

AASHTO Journal, 10 October 2014


Photo courtesy of Rhode Island DOT.

Rhode Island’s Department of Transportation will host a showcase Oct. 30 in Providence of its innovative bridge construction, which uses products developed through the second Strategic Highway Research Program, or SHRP2. But you need to register for it.

DOT representatives, contractors and other practitioners from the New England area are invited to the daylong event, which will give them a first-hand look at the Innovative Bridge Designs (R04) process on the Warren Avenue Bridge over I-195. Registration information is in this notice.

The Warren Avenue Bridge will close to traffic on Oct. 17, with plans to reopen just four weeks later on Nov. 16 using innovative design that significantly shortened what would normally be a full-year construction period. The innovations include using two sections of precast “superstructure,” knitted together by a closure pour.

The existing bridge over Interstate 195 is more than 60 years old, with wooden timbers supporting its piers. The structure carries about 8,000 vehicles a day, with 1,000 during each morning and evening rush hour.

That showcase event will also include a look at the Barton Corners bridge project that used self-propelled modular transporters, as well as an overview of Maine’s Kittery Overpass Bridge on Route 2.

The showcase begins at the Omni Providence Hotel with representatives from RIDOT, Federal Highway Administration, and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, who will discuss lessons learned from the initial design process through contracting and finally the construction phase. Besides a site visit to the bridge, it also includes presentations from the contractor and RIDOT on design issues, costs to construct and schedule impacts.

The SHRP2 Innovative Bridge Designs for Rapid Renewal design tool kit includes standard plans and details for designing bridges that are light, simple and easier to design, fabricate, transport and erect. The tool kit features concepts for innovative foundation systems, substructure and superstructure systems, subsystems, and components and training materials.

With the standardized design tool kit and related training materials, local contractors may use standard equipment to apply accelerated bridge construction methods to renew typical bridges. The designs can be incorporated into project plans with minimal additional design effort, making the benefits of faster project delivery and reduced disruption available to thousands of bridge renewal projects.

For more information on this and other renewal projects please visit the AASHTO SHRP2 web page at http://shrp2.transportation.org/pages/Renewal.aspx.

You can also contact:
–Cynthia McCarthy, chief community liaison officer, RIDOT; email hidden; JavaScript is required, 401‑222-2450, Ext. 4016
–Matt DeMarco, SHRP2 renewal program engineer, FHWA SHRP2; email hidden; JavaScript is required, 720‑963‑3520
–Pam Hutton, AASHTO’s SHRP2 implementation manager; email hidden; JavaScript is required, 303-263-1212
–Patricia Bush, AASHTO’s product technical lead; email hidden; JavaScript is required, (202) 624-8181

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