Even as Congress begins debate on the President’s economic recovery proposals,
state and federal transportation officials are expediting the highway projects that will put
thousands of workers back on the job.
Even as Congress begins debate on the President’s economic recovery proposals,
state and federal transportation officials are expediting the highway projects that will put
thousands of workers back on the job.
“The urgency of implementing this recovery package is too great to waste time. An
AASHTO task force has been working with the Federal Highway Administration to identify
every conceivable method for getting these projects out to the field,” said Executive Director
John Horsley. Both AASHTO and the Federal Highway Administration have launched
individual web sites to share the acceleration techniques.
“We continue to hear the nay-sayers cast doubt on how quickly this work can begin to
help the nation’s economic recovery. Their focus is on what’s past and they fail to recognize
the ability of Americans to rise to this kind of challenge. We believe Congress has more
confidence in the nation’s ‘can-do’ spirit and we are ready to meet its expectations,” Horsley
said.
Horsley identified some of the activities states are pursuing to prepare for the influx of
federal funding:
Reduced Advertising and Award Timeframes: States have been meeting with the
contracting and consultant industry to inform them of the potential impact of the
Economic Recovery Act and what will be expected of them, including the potential for
reduced advertising periods and award timeframes for projects;
Transportation Planning: Many states have begun work with MPOs to make
necessary amendments to plans, Transportation Improvement Plans and State
Transportation Improvement Plans;
Rehabilitation Projects: In many areas, states are focusing on rehabilitation projects
that can be developed quickly. Identifying candidate projects is relatively easy because
the needs far outpace the available funding. Designs are being kept simple and straightforward to ensure speedy delivery; and
Regional Bridge Repair Contracts: Some states are considering regional bridge repair
contracts with quantities and listing of repairs needed for each location. These are lump
sum contracts intended to address significant bridge needs.
Extend the lifespan and durability of any concrete. PoreShield is a USDA BioPreferred product and is approved for residential, commercial, and industrial use. It works great above...