North Dakota's Bridge Load Testing Project - 2017 ATCMTD Application: North Dakota Department of Transportation
Letters of Support
June 6, 2017
The Honorable Elaine L. Chao
Secretary of Transportation
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
ATCMTD GRANT APPLICATION SUPPORT FOR NDDOT BRIDGE LOAD TESTING PROJECT
The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) is pleased to submit this application for 2017 ATCMTD grant funding for the NDDOT Bridge Load Testing Project.
This application specifically addresses the reduction of the number of bridges that are restricted for load carrying capacity throughout the state. A concentrated effort using diagnostic load testing technology and Non-Destructive Evaluation will allow NDDOT to accurately identify certain structures to become unrestricted, hereby shortening the travel time and distance to move agriculture and industrial products to markets.
During development of the North Dakota Freight Plan, adopted in April 2015, numerous stakeholders in both the public and private sector identified load restrictions as problematic for freight shipments (in the agriculture, oil, and wind energy industries).
Some load restrictions have caused detours of many miles and hours for both industry and the traveling public.
If funded, NDDOT would contract with a consulting firm to perform this testing and provide efficiency in prioritization of bridge replacements. This project will ultimately aid safety in the state, remove costly freight impediments to industry, and increase the reliable shipment of goods.
We look forward to working with USDOT to implement this testing to ensure efficient structure analysis across North Dakota.
/s/
RONALD J. HENKE, P.E., INTERIM DIRECTOR
17/rjg/sas
600 East Boulevard Avenue • Bismark, North Dakota 58505-0700
Information: 1-855-NDROADS (1-855-637-6237) • FAX: (701) 328-0310 • TTY: 711 • dot.nd.gov
June 9, 2017
The Honorable Elaine L. Chao
Secretary
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Secretary Chao:
I write to express my support for the application submitted by the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) for 2017 Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment Initiative (ATCMTD) grant funding for the NDDOT's Bridge Load Testing Project.
NDDOT is working to reduce the number of bridges that are restricted by load carrying capacity throughout the state. By using diagnostic load testing technology and non-destructive evaluation, NDDOT will work to identify certain structures where the carrying capacity could be increased without having to make additional structural improvements. Using these methods of testing, NDDOT would be able to more accurately determine what the actual load carrying capacity is and may allow for increasing the load limits on certain structures, thereby shortening the travel time and distance to move agriculture and industrial products to markets.
If funded, NDDOT would contract with a consulting firm to perform this testing and provide efficiency in prioritization of bridge replacements. Rural bridge projects like this provide a critical investment in rural America and greatly benefit our agricultural industry, which has seen its farm income decline in recent years and is facing continued low commodity prices.
Again, this project carries with it my support, and I hope you will consider NDDOT's application favorably. Please feel free to contact my office if I can provide any additional information. I would also greatly appreciate if you kept my office informed about the status of this request.
Sincerely,
/s/
Heidi Heitkamp
United States Senate
C: Ron Henke, PE, Interim NDDOT Director
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BISMARCK OFFICE: 228 FEDERAL BUILDING |
DICKINSON OFFICE: 40 1ST AVENUE W EST |
FARGO OFFICE: |
GRAND FORKS OFFICE: |
MINOT OFFICE |
June 9, 2017
The Honorable Elaine Chao
Secretary of Transportation
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20590
RE: ATCMTD Grant Application Support for NDDOT Bridge Load Testing Project
Dear Secretary Chao:
I am writing to express my support for the application submitted by the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) on behalf of its Bridge Load Testing Project to the 2017 Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment (ATCMTD) Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
As you certainly understand, our nation's infrastructure is vital not only to public safety, but also the growth of our economy. While Congress and the White House work toward a legislative package to revitalize our nation's infrastructure, states continue their efforts to seek out innovative ways to repair and improve the country's transportation system.
To this end, NDDOT is working to reduce the number of bridges that are restricted for load carrying capacity throughout the state. The department will undertake a concentrated effort using diagnostic load testing technology and Non-Destructive Evaluation to accurately identify structures that may become unrestricted. This would shorten the travel time and distance to move agricultural and industrial products to market, ultimately aiding safety in the state, removing costly freight impediments to industry, and increasing the reliable shipment of goods.
Accordingly, I hope NDDOT's application receives the full and fair consideration it deserves. Thank you for your time and attention. Please keep me informed of the review process, and feel free to contact my office with any updates or inquires you may have for me.
Sincerely,
/s/
John Hoeven
U.S. Senator
10:44
June 9, 2017
Ms. Elaine L. Chao, Secretary of Transportation
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Secretary Chao:
RE: ATCMTD Grant Application Support for NDDOT Bridge Load Testing Project
The County of Burleigh strongly supports the NDDOT Bridge Load Testing Project for which the North Dakota Department of Transportation is requesting 2017 ATCMTD grant funding.
This project is intended to assist in reducing the number of bridges that are restricted for load carrying capacity within the state of North Dakota. NDDOT is proposing to use diagnostic load testing technology and Non-Destructive Evaluation to test bridges that have load ratings near legal load capacities but are restricted for weight because of the calculated load ratings. The expectation is that this technology will allow these structures to become unrestricted, hereby shortening the travel time and distance to move agriculture and industrial products to markets.
If funded, NDDOT would partner with us to contract with a consulting firm to perform field analysis and result calculations on a bridge by bridge basis. Our County's bridges would be grouped geographically and by type to provide efficiency in prioritization of bridge replacements. These improved bridges will aid safety in the state, remove costly freight impediments to industry, and increase the reliable shipment of goods.
Thank you for your consideration of this important project and please feel free to contact me if I can provide anything further.
Sincerely,
/s/
Commissioner
Burleigh County, ND
CC: Ron Henke, PE, Interim NDDOT Director
June 6, 2017
Ms. Elaine L. Chao, Secretary of Transportation
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Secretary Chao:
RE: ATCMTD Grant Application Support for NDDOT Bridge Load Testing Project
The County of Grand Forks strongly supports the NDDOT Bridge Load Testing Project for which the North Dakota Department of Transportation is requesting 2017 ATCMTD grant funding.
This project is intended to assist in reducing the number of bridges that are restricted for load carrying capacity within the state of North Dakota. NDDOT is proposing to use diagnostic load testing technology and Non-Destructive Evaluation to test bridges that have load ratings near legal load capacities but are restricted for weight because of the calculated load ratings. The expectation is that this technology will allow these structures to become unrestricted, hereby shortening the travel time and distance to move agriculture and industrial products to markets.
If funded, NDDOT would partner with us to contract with a consulting firm to perform field analysis and result calculations on a bridge by bridge basis. Our County's bridges would be grouped geographically and by type to provide efficiency in prioritization of bridge replacements. These improved bridges will aid safety in the state, remove costly freight impediments to industry, and increase the reliable shipment of goods.
Thank you for your consideration of this important project and please feel free to contact me if I can provide anything further.
Sincerely,
/s/
Grand Forks County Commission Chair
Cynthia Pic
CC: Ron Henke, PE, Interim NDDOT Director
June 5, 2017
Ms. Elaine L. Chao, Secretary of Transportation
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Secretary Chao:
RE: ATCMTD Grant Application Support for NDDOT Bridge Load Testing Project
The County of Morton strongly supports the NDDOT Bridge Load Testing Project for which the North Dakota Department of Transportation is requesting 2017 ATCMTD grant funding.
This project is intended to assist in reducing the number of bridges that are restricted for load carrying capacity within the state of North Dakota. NDDOT is proposing to use diagnostic load testing technology and Non-Destructive Evaluation to test bridges that have load ratings near legal load capacities but are restricted for weight because of the calculated load ratings. The expectation is that this technology will allow these structures to become unrestricted, hereby shortening the travel time and distance to move agriculture and industrial products to markets.
If funded, NDDOT would partner with us to contract with a consulting firm to perform field analysis and result calculations on a bridge by bridge basis. Our County's bridges would be grouped geographically and by type to provide efficiency in prioritization of bridge replacements. These improved bridges will aid safety in the state, remove costly freight impediments to industry, and increase the reliable shipment of goods.
Thank you for your consideration of this important project and please feel free to contact me if I can provide anything further.
Sincerely,
/s/
Chairman
Morton County Commission
CC: Ron Henke, PE, Interim NDDOT Director
