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Monitoring the performance of Louisiana’s first GRS–IBS bridge
June 1st, 2018
Over the decades, soil mass reinforced by layers of geosynthetics has been used widely and successfully in a variety of earth structures, such as mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining walls, embankments, slopes and shallow foundations. Due to the proven benefits of geosynthetic reinforced soil (GRS), including cost-effectiveness, simple and fast construction, and tolerance of differential […]
Highway deep-patch geogrid applications
June 1st, 2018
Deep patch is a repair technique that has been widely used on low-volume roads in the Pacific Northwest as a cost-effective mitigation technique to address settlement and shallow landsliding of side-cast embankment fill slopes and natural slopes consisting of weak soils overlying stronger soils (Cuelho et al. 2012). A deep patch consists of a subexcavation […]
WisDOT publishes study on geotextile puncture test methods
June 1st, 2018
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funded research into puncture test methods for geotextiles, and the report from this study is now available online. Various tests are conducted to assess and classify a geotextile’s suitability for different applications. One of these tests is the puncture strength test. This test […]
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 […]
The TRB Standing Committee on Geosynthetics
June 1st, 2018
The Transportation Research Board (TRB), a program of the nonprofit National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, has more than 200 standing committees within their Technical Activities Division; one of those is the Standing Committee on Geosynthetics (AFS70), which focuses on issues related to analysis, design, installation and performance of geosynthetics used in transportation. The […]
AASHTO’s executive director to retire
May 28th, 2018
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) announced May 24, 2018, that Executive Director Frederick G. “Bud” Wright will retire at the end of 2018. "AASHTO is a wonderful place to work," Wright said in a prepared statement from AASHTO. "In my experience—and that experience working in transportation now spans more than […]
ARTBA petitions USDOT to end federal rule blocking the use of innovative products in highway and bridge projects
May 22nd, 2018
The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) announced it had formally petitioned the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to repeal a 102-year-old federal procurement rule the group says has blocked, since its inception, the use of products that could improve safety and quality on the nation’s major roadways. At issue is 23 CFR 635.411, […]
AASHTO announces passing of Kane
May 21st, 2018
On May 18, 2018, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) announced the death of Dr. Anthony R. “Tony” Kane, the former director of engineering and technical services of AASHTO. Kane died last week after battling a long illness. He was 72. Kane served in his role at AASHTO from 2001 to […]
NHI hosting course on earth retaining structures in New Mexico and California
April 30th, 2018
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Highway Institute (NHI) will host a three-day instructor-led course on earth retaining structures twice this summer, in Sacramento, California, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. The course (Course Number FHWA-NHI-132036) will provide state-of-the-practice design tools and construction techniques to expand implementation of safe and cost-effective earth retention technologies, NHI said. […]
FHWA and AASHTO open nominations for 2018 STIC Excellence Award
April 27th, 2018
Nominations for the 2018 State Transportation Innovation Council (STIC) Excellence Award are open now through July 1, 2018, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Center for Accelerating Innovation (CAI) announced. CAI partners with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Innovation Initiative on the award, which recognizes STICs that have achieved significant results […]