FHWA Update for the Virtis Opis User Group Meeting

Thomas Saad, P. E.FHWA Resource Center

Phone: 708.283.3521E-mail: thomas.saad@dot.gov

FHWA Key Bridge Program Initiatives

• NBIS Oversight and Compliance – Roll out of new procedures for uniformity/conformance

• ARRA• Every Day Counts (EDC) - ABC and PFBE • Gusset Plate Evaluations• Scour POAs

Changes in FHWA NBIS Program Oversight

• OIG and GAO reviews of FHWA Oversight (2007-2008) for inconsistency and weaknesses in NBIS Oversight

• Seven new full-time positions in FHWA Office of Bridge Technology• Four (4) Bridge Safety Engineers• Load Rating Engineer• Scour Engineer• Bridge Preservation Engineer

• New procedures in place for FHWA Division Offices to review NBIS compliance and achieve uniformity

Pilot Truck Weight StudyMaine and Vermont

• Allow States to increase GVW on Interstate to 100,000 lbs

• One year pilot program in each State• FHWA Office of Freight Management to evaluate and

report impacts to Congress• Evaluation to cover economic benefits and impacts

on safety, pavements and bridges in Vermont• Study vehicles: 6 axles (42 foot and 51 foot

wheelbase in Maine and Vermont, respectively)

NHI Course 130081:• Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) for Highway Bridge

Superstructures • 2 to 5-day training courses on steel and concrete superstructure

designNHI Course 130082:

• Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) for Highway Bridge Substructures and Earth Retaining Structures

• 1 to 5-day training course on LRFD foundation, pier and wall design

NHI Course 130092:• Load and Resistance Factor Rating (LRFR) for Highway Bridges • 2 to 5-day training courses on rating and analyzing concrete and

steel bridge superstructure and substructure elements

FHWA/NHI Bridge Design and Analysis Training Courses

NHI Course 130093: • LRFD Seismic Analysis and Design of Highway Bridges• 5-day training course on LRFD Seismic Design of Bridges

NHI Course 130094: • LRFD Seismic Analysis and Design of Tunnels, Walls and other

Geotechnical Features• 5-day training course on LRFD Seismic Analysis of retaining

walls, earthworks and buried structuresNHI Course 130095:

• LRFD: Design and Analysis of Skewed and Horizontally Curved Steel Bridges

• 4-day training course with Reference Manual

FHWA/NHI Bridge Design and Analysis Training Courses

Specific thoughts for Bridge Owners and Managers

• No better time to make improvements in bridge management and operations and to acquire resources to get the job done

• V-O users should be harnessing the power of technology

• Spend $$$ and time efficiently – make program changes for the future as you update design and load rating procedures

Virtis-Opis Training and Marketing

Formal training available through Service Units

Other Training and/or Marketing needs???• Need to consider VOTF budget• Need for product training? Showcases?• Who needs training? Level of expertise?