A geosynthetic wrap-face vegetated wall system
October 1st, 2020
For highway embankment construction By Stanley M. Miller and Drew Loizeaux A recent creek enhancement project to facilitate the passage of bull trout in Pend Oreille County of northeastern Washington state required removal of a 6-foot (1.8-m) diameter concrete culvert (Figure 1), realignment of a well-traveled county road and a new 58-foot (17.7-m) span bridge. […]
FHWA video features GRS–IBS history and construction techniques
October 5th, 2018
A Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) YouTube video showcases the history and construction techniques of the geosynthetic reinforced soil–integrated bridge system (GRS–IBS). The video illustrates how to build a GRS–IBS. It is intended to educate designers, engineers, contractors and inspectors on the fundamentals of the GRS–IBS. The video follows the GRS–IBS Interim Implementation Guide (FHWA-HRT-11-026). The […]
Final inspection: GRS–IBS bridge in place in 80 hours
June 1st, 2018
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) began work on the McCormick Quarry Bridge over Warren Avenue in East Providence on Sept. 23, 2016, using a geosynthetic reinforced soil–integrated bridge system (GRS–IBS). According to the Federal Highway Administration and RIDOT, the technique allowed crews to cut the closure time for the bridge from one year […]
VA Commonwealth Transportation Board approves $18.6 billion for transportation projects
June 30th, 2017
On June 20, 2017, the Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approved the Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP) for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT). The program includes $18.6 billion for transportation projects over the next six fiscal years beginning July 1, 2017. Projects include highway, road, bridge, […]
Geosynthetic reinforcement in bridge building
January 6th, 2017
Iowa celebrates local bridge opening A ceremony in Iowa celebrated the opening of the Catt Bridge in Buchanan County. The new bridge features a glued laminated timber—or glulam—superstructure supported on a geosynthetic-reinforced soil abutment. The U.S. Forest Service and Iowa State University’s Institute for Transportation developed the innovative design and Buchanan County work crews built […]
INDOT’s 2015 investments in roads and bridges exceeded $1 billion
January 6th, 2016
The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has announced that the agency’s 2015 construction season resulted in an investment of more than $1 billion in state and local roads, bridges, trails, and traffic safety projects. The mix of federal and state transportation funding, along with money from Gov. Mike Pence’s Major Moves 2020 program, allowed INDOT […]
State/county bridge building with geosynthetics wins award
November 10th, 2015
Among recent recipients of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Accelerated Innovation Deployment (AID) awards is the Arizona Department of Transportation in conjunction with Mohave County. These state and local state agencies partnered to design and build a geosynthetic-reinforced soil–integrated bridge system (GRS–IBS)* project on Oatman Highway in northwestern Arizona. The bridge now spans the Sacramento […]
Amendment adds “geosynthetic materials” to 2015 transportation bill
November 5th, 2015
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) is shown endorsing the amendment by Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) that supports the use of innovative technologies, including geosynthetic materials. Their comments were made Nov. 3 during debate in the House regarding the 2015 transportation bill. The amendment passed by voice vote.
GRS-IBS Makes Quick Work of Bridge Replacement
September 9th, 2015
When flooding forced the closure of the Jessup Mill Road Bridge over Edward’s Run in Mantua Township, New Jersey, county officials turned to a quick but effective solution to reopen the vital community link: geosynthetic reinforced soil–integrated bridge system technology. “We had observed the use of innovative bridge construction methods in other states that reduce […]