HNTB Viewpoint Discusses FAST Act Funding for Nation’s Crumbling Bridges

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Chris Price, PE, national bridge practice leader for HNTB Corporation, authored an HNTB Viewpoint entitled “Crumbling bridges: Now is the time to take action.” It highlights provisions within the new Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act that enable more efficient bridge repair strategies.

The Viewpoint notes that about 10 percent of the nation’s bridges are rated “structurally deficient,” the worst of five bridge status ratings. Price advocates bridge owners take advantage of the legislation’s newly enacted flexibility in funding two innovative contracting and construction approaches:  bridge bundling and accelerated bridge construction.

“These strategies, combined with enhanced funding options targeted specifically to bridges, make this the right time to take action,” Price said.

Bridge bundling is used to aggregate a specific set of projects or can be used to undertake a statewide bridge improvement program.  It combines multiple bridge projects into a single contract, creating greater simplicity, cost savings, efficiency and delivery speed.

Accelerated bridge construction is a process that shortens traditional timelines for bridge replacement from years down to weeks, days or even hours.  It includes a range of activities performed concurrently to more efficiently design, procure, prefabricate and erect replacement bridge systems.

“The mandate for improving America’s bridges is strong,” Price said. “And, now, federal funding policies are better aligned to achieve quick progress. This is no time for delay – our bridges aren’t getting any younger.”

About HNTB
HNTB Corporation is an employee-owned infrastructure firm serving public and private owners and contractors. With more than a century of service in the United States, HNTB understands the life cycle of infrastructure and addresses clients’ most complex technical, financial and operational challenges. Professionals nationwide deliver a full range of infrastructure-related services, including award-winning planning, design, program management and construction management. For more information, visit www.hntb.com.

bridges Crumbling bridges: Now is the time to take action