Bob GrubbsLead Bridge EngineerODOT Region 3, Tech Center

Lessons LearnedFAST 14, Boston MAFHWA Highways for Life Showcase

• Longer-lasting highway infrastructure using

• Innovations to accomplish the

• Fast construction of

• Efficient and safe highways and bridges

What is ‘Highways for Life’?FHWA program that promotes:

• Replace 14 deteriorated bridge superstructures • Minimize impacts to travelers and communities• Reduce the duration of construction as much as possible

(Complete the construction ASAP)• Use cutting-edge innovations• Communicate to the public

FAST14 – Boston Ma.Project Mission

• Main route from Boston to Northern New England • Over 200,000 ADT with high morning and afternoon peaks

(highest ADT I-5 Oregon is 150K, highest in R3=50K)• Bridges have deteriorated superstructures, deck and girders

Interstate-93Roadway Characteristics

A day in August 2010

Conventional Construction• 5 stages • 4 years• Worker safety issues• Concern of life of existing

structures

Construction OptionsConventional -vs- ABC

• Design/Build procurement– Issued Notice-to-Proceed on February 7, 2011– Prep work began March 14

• Superstructure replacement– Superstructure replacement June 1 – Sept 1, 2011– Weekends only (except July 4th)

• Finish work to occur after September 1– Paving, rail, lighting, median, etc...

• All bridge replacements complete in 2011

Project TimelineNot just the construction was accelerated

Existing Condition of BridgesWhat there is to work with

Bad decks combined with bad girders

Prep for ABCPrepare existing bridges

Install temporary support for existing bridges

Prep for ABCPrepare existing bridges

Prepare beam seats for new girders

Prep for ABCPrepare existing bridges

Sometimes this requires modifications

Accelerated Bridge ConstructionStep 1 – Friday evening

Transform road from 8-lanes to 4-lanes

Accelerated Bridge ConstructionStep 2 – Friday night

Demolish the bridges

Accelerated Bridge ConstructionStep 3 – Saturday morning

Demo completed, ready to place prefab superstructure

Accelerated Bridge ConstructionStep 3 – Saturday morning

Place prefabricated superstructure

Accelerated Bridge ConstructionStep 3 – Saturday morning

Place prefabricated superstructure

Accelerated Bridge ConstructionStep 4 – Saturday afternoon

Prepare joints for closure pour

Accelerated Bridge ConstructionStep 4 – Saturday afternoon/evening

Closure pour

Accelerated Bridge ConstructionStep 5 – Sunday

Pave bridge and place barrier

Accelerated Bridge ConstructionConstruction Video

Play video here

Lessons LearnedMy observations

Very creative Incentive/Disincentive• Incentives based on meeting overall completion date milestones

($7-million)• Disincentive based on getting road open on Monday morning

– One late Monday -$3.2-million– Two late Mondays -$4.8-million– Three late Mondays -$7-million– PLUS disincentive for late opening

• @ 5:00 -$450K• @ 5:15 -$100K• @ 5:30 -$150K• @ 5:45 -$200K• @ 6:00 -$250K• Total maximum per day = $1.15million

Lessons LearnedMy observations

• The short time line for design and construction created a “sense of urgency” that made the project successful

Lessons LearnedMy observations

• They did not ask “What should we do?”• They asked the public

“Here is what we are doing, how can we make it better?”

Lessons LearnedMy observations

• The engineering is simple, the construction straight forward– To build it fast, make it simple– Less detail, fewer things to go wrong

Lessons LearnedMy observations

• Formed teams with other agencies, they own the project too

Lessons LearnedMy observations• Public outreach & communication very important

• The MassDOT Communications Team used– Used Traditional Methods of Communications

– Used Social Media

– Non-Conventional Methods of Communication• Billboards, message boards, state payroll checks, toll booth stickers/tickets

Can we do this in Oregon?Isthmus Slough Bridge

• ABC methods used• 250-ft of bridge replaced with 13 days of traffic interruption

QUESTIONS?