Best Practice

BEST PRACTICE:

G1−8: Construction Practices to Minimize Motorists' Delays and Inconveniences

DESCRIPTION:

Many techniques have been used to minimize motorists' delay in and near work zones, such as the use of pre−fabricated elements or full closures of roadways to reduce total construction time.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) completed a resurfacing and bridge seismic retrofit/overlay project on I−57 during the summer of 1999 that incorporated several innovations for minimizing delays and inconveniences to motorists. Many innovations were later adopted into IDOT's Bureau of Design and Environment (BDE) Procedure Memorandum. Innovations used on this I−57 project included:
• Consolidating several projects into one combined project.
• Moving lane closures and tapers to the mid–day production point.
• Using fast setting mixes for bridge work and pavement patching.
• Contractor accomplishing multiple tasks during lane closures and sponsoring of a road report to increase knowledge of the project.
• Using lane rental and incentive/disincentive contracting.

In recent years, accelerated bridge construction (ABC) techniques have been used to reduce construction time, improve safety conditions for construction workers, and increase public support. With ABC, a bridge can be removed and replaced in a matter of days rather than months or even years. Many States, including Utah, Florida, Virginia, and Washington have implemented ABC techniques on critical bridge infrastructure projects.

For example, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) replaced four bridges in a period of 37 hours over a two−weekend period by constructing the bridges "off−site" in the median and then transporting them into place over a typically congested freeway that was closed during the weekend construction periods. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) used self−propelled modular transporters to move a bridge into place over I−4 in a matter of 22 minutes in 2006. Virginia and Washington have used pre−fabricated elements constructed off−site to help replace older bridges quickly and safety.

REASON(S) FOR ADOPTING:

Innovative construction processes can be used to support the timely completion of projects and meet the needs of customers by minimizing disruptions to the traveling public.

PRIMARY BENEFIT(S):

Typically, innovative construction practices can result in decreased construction time for projects, reduced delays for motorists, and less negative feedback from the public with regard to the construction and its perceived inconveniences.

MOST APPLICABLE LOCATION(S)/PROJECT(S):

All construction and reconstruction projects, with a particular emphasis on projects occurring on high−volume roadways or on roads with no available diversion routes.

STATE(S) WHERE USED:

Florida, Illinois, Utah, Virginia , Washington

SOURCE/CONTACT(S):

Amy Scales, Florida DOT
Phone: (386) 943−5729
E−mail: amy.scales@dot.state.fl.us