Making a Difference through Transportation Innovation
Innovation is the hallmark of these transportation success stories. Transportation agencies are constantly seeking new ways to solve problems to ensure that the public’s money is always spent wisely.
Innovations in contracting help DOTs get the best price, find the most qualified contractors, and identify creative and cost-effective project enhancements. Best value contracting that includes both cost and innovation as selection criteria and design-build that uses the same contractor to design and construct the project have contributed to transportation project successes.
Innovative Examples
The Michigan Department of Transportation used best value contracting for a project to upgrade a 5.5-mile section of Michigan 115, a rural, two-lane road. The selected contractor identified a series of innovations to improve the project including self-adjusting temporary signals, temporary object markers to eliminate runoffs, and use of pre-cast bridge construction, and providing a superior pavement design over joint repairs. The project was funded with a $1 million FHWA Highways for Life grant.
A fixed-price, $52 million design-build contract to replace five bridges on Oregon 38, a key route connecting to Interstate 5, made it possible for the Oregon Department of Transportation to use “rapid replacement” construction to minimize traffic disruptions. Located near Elkton, Oregon, the new bridges were built next to the old ones, which remained open during construction. Once the new structures were completed, the old bridges were removed using hydraulic jacks and the new bridges slid into place. Crews closed the road for only three days over a weekend for each bridge replacement.
The California Department of Transportation used design sequencing to build its successful I-15 Middle Segment, an eight-mile long extension of the region’s reversible, high-occupancy-vehicle expressway. Design sequencing allows construction to go out to bid with a minimum of 30 percent completed plans so that some work can start while the rest of the plans are completed. Design sequencing made it possible to complete $500 million of improvements in 5 1/2 years.
The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department used the A+C bidding method to issue a contract for its Highway 245 interchange improvement project. The $6.9 million project included widening the highway from two to five lanes, replacing a 42-year-old bridge overpass, and reconstructing interchange ramps and city streets. The A+C method takes into account both cost of construction and the contractor’s projected delivery time along with a daily financial incentive for finishing early. The project was completed 53 days early and $185,547 under budget.
The Maryland Department of Transportation issued its first design-build contract for upgrading I-70 in Washington County—one of the country’s oldest and most important east–west roadways. It included design and construction to replace two 1966-era bridges and replacement of a pipe culvert. The project was finished on time and within budget.
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) developed a first-of-its-kind engineering policy database that consolidates thousands of pages from 40 different manuals into one online resource. The guide eliminates policy inconsistencies and provides a one-stop resource for consulting companies, contractors, and educators. Completed in one year, transportation officials say the guide has revolutionized the way MoDOT does business and has attracted broad attention as a potential model for other transportation agencies.
Particularly complex projects often demand extra creativity to meet unique challenges.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) faced a range of daunting challenges in replacing seven bridges along NC 12 on Ocracoke Island. Ocracoke is only accessible by ferry and air, and Route 12 is the only highway on the island. With citizen input, NCDOT decided to close the road entirely during the off-season to replace all seven bridges within 75 days. To keep traffic moving, NCDOT created a 3.2-mile-long beach detour, providing free air pumps on either end of the beach detour since traveling across sand is easier with partially deflated tires—and free, round-the-clock towing service if needed. Roughly 750 truckloads of equipment and materials were delivered to the island by NCDOT ferries.
The outcome—all seven bridges were completed within 45 days, and the highway reopened 10 days early.
The Utah Department of Transportation’s Legacy Parkway Project was designed to provide much-needed congestion relief in a busy commuter, freight, and tourist corridor. But it became much more than that. At its simplest, the Legacy Parkway is a 14-mile, four-lane highway that provides a travel alternative between Farmington and Salt Lake City. The project also includes an extensive community-based trail system, innovative aesthetics and landscaping, and smooth connections with mass transit. It also provides a new template for a “parkway” concept that will guide future highway planning in Utah.
I love the name Legacy Parkway. But whenever I drive on that road a few years from now I will think of it as Cooperation Parkway. That’s what made this happen, and I will never forget it.
~ Jon Huntsman
Former Utah Governor
The parkway quickly accomplished its traffic mobility goals. Shortly after its opening, the average afternoon commute time from Salt Lake City to Farmington was down from 42 minutes to 16 minutes!