NON-REGULATORY SUPPLEMENT
OPI: HNG-33
- NEW AND MAJOR RECONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES. The FHWA established a
"10-year rule" for determining a bridge's eligibility for HBRRP funding after
construction or major reconstruction has taken place. The rule prevents a
bridge from remaining in a deficient classification after major reconstruction
and thereby affecting the bridge fund apportionments to a State.
- New and Major Reconstruction of Bridges-Interpretation of the 10-Year
Rule (23 CFR 650.405). A bridge improvement would be subject to the
10-year rule if it is classed as rehabilitation or replacement under 23
CFR 650.405(b) irrespective of the funding used. Conversely, a bridge
improvement would not be subject to the 10-year rule if it cannot be classed
as rehabilitation or replacement under one of the 23 CFR 650.405(b) definitions.
Such an improvement would not be eligible for HBRRP funding although it
may be eligible for other Federal-aid funding.
- b. New or Major Reconstruction of Bridges Built to Less than AASHTO
Standards (23 CFR 650.413). Bridges in the NBI with a date of construction
or date of major reconstruction (NBI Item 27) within the past 10 years
will not be considered a deficient bridge, will not be eligible for HBRRP
funds and will not be used to apportion HBRRP funds. For example, a date
of 1976 will be used for the determination until the end of 1985. Eligibility
for HBRRP funding:
(1) The definition of major reconstruction should be developed
by the region and division offices in consultation with the States.
(2) The 10-year criteria in which a bridge will not be eligible for
HBRRP funding applies to bridges replaced or reconstructed with any
Federal-aid funds, with all State or local funds, private funds, or
any combination thereof.
(3) To be eligible for funding, the bridge must be of the current HBRRP
selection list. Any bridge constructed or reconstructed in the past
10 years will not appear on this list. This will apply whether or not
Item 13, Bridge Description, is coded as a temporary structure.
(4) Any State request to use HBRRP funds for a bridge not on the selection
list should be fully documented and justified to indicate that additional
deficiencies have developed through some natural or unforeseen phenomenon.
Bridges removed from the selection list because of the 10-year criteria
but with Federal-aid funds obligated for construction work prior to
their removal will continue to be eligible for HBRRP funds. Regions
should handle each of the above cases on an individual basis.
(5) Incorrectly coded data in the National Bridge Inventory should be
corrected as soon as possible.
- IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTION 123(e)-OFF SYSTEM BRIDGE PROGRAM (No CFR paragraph
reference)
- Federal regulations originating with Section 123(e) of the 1987 STURAA,
permit the expenditure of local funds on an off-system non-Federal-aid
project in some cases to be used to offset the local matching share of
a subsequent HBRRP (23 CFR 650, subpart D) bridge project. There have
been questions on the work activities that qualify. The FHWA has determined
that for the purposes of implementing 23 U.S.C. 144(n), the term "construction"
should be broadly defined. It includes most activities incidental to the
development and actual replacement or rehabilitation of a highway bridge.
However, many States may want to limit the crediting phases of such projects
to only the classic "hard construction" activities. These activities are
usually easier to track and can be readily quantified at the time the
new bridge improvements are ready to accept traffic.
- Federal regulations originating in Section 123(e) of the 1987 STURAA,
also permits States to carry out bridge improvements on non-controversial
off-system bridges (on local roads and rural minor collectors) without
Federal funding, and then apply 80 percent of the cost of such projects
as credit toward the non-Federal share of other HBRRP projects. The FHWA
has developed basic national guidelines for uniform administering those
projects and the guidelines are:
(1) The bridges meet the normal current eligibility requirements
for HBRRP funding. (They must be both deficient and have a sufficiency
rating of 80 or less to be eligible for rehabilitation or a sufficiency
rating of less than 50 to be eligible for replacement).
(2) They must be noncontroversial.
(3) Projects must be carried out in accordance with standards which
are certified by the State and accepted by the FHWA as meeting all standards
applicable to other bridge projects funded under 23 U.S.C. 144.
(4) The resulting improved bridges must not be deficient.
(5) Construction costs are the only expenditures eligible for credit.
(6) Only a minimal amount of approach work is to be applied as a credit.
(7) Credits for future matching of HBRRP will not be made for these
bridge projects until the project is complete, inventoried, inspected
and the resulting data entered into the State's bridge inventory file.
- IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTION 123(d)-BRIDGES TO REPLACE DESTROYED BRIDGES
AND FERRYBOAT SERVICE (No CFR paragraph reference)
- Federal regulations originating with Section 123(d) of the 1987 STURAA
make the replacement of destroyed bridges and ferryboat service, 23 U.S.C.
144(m), eligible work under the Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation
Program, 23 CFR 650, subpart D. The FHWA has developed basic national
guidelines for uniform administration of the eligible work and the guidelines
are:
(1) Bridges built under this section must meet the highway
system requirements of which they are a part. Further, regular Federal-aid
procedures and Section 144 requirements, where applicable, shall be
used. In particular, the requirement that minimal approach roadway costs
will be eligible must be observed.
(2) The program is applicable only to highway bridges.
(3) Bridges constructed under this section will not be added to the
National Bridge Inventory until the new bridge is completed.
(4) The completed structure does not have to be of bridge length.
(5) It is possible that a bridge made obsolete by Corps of Engineer
actions and in some instances low water crossings, could be classified
as deficient bridges. If a bridge is already eligible for the HBRRP,
it shall be programmed under the regular HBRRP program with no special
designation.
- There is a definition of low water crossing to be used for this program.
Low water crossings include public road waterway crossings other than
bridges where construction improvements have been made in the stream,
river or lake bed to provide a firm surface for vehicles to travel across
the water course. The crossings are designed and constructed to be passable
to traffic most of the year during periods of ordinary stream flow but
are impassable to traffic during periods of high water.
- HBRRP PROGRAM FUNDING POLICY ON CLOSED BRIDGES (23 CFR 650.413).
The FHWA has developed a funding policy for closed bridges. The HBRRP funds
can only be used to replace or to rehabilitate bridges which are significantly
important and are unsafe. Bridges out of service (closed) prior to the establishment
of the Special Bridge Replacement Program (December 31, 1970) are not eligible
for the HBRRP and were removed from the National Bridge Inventory. Bridges
taken out of service after December 31, 1970, are also not eligible unless
the State highway agency has made reasonable progress in scheduling the rehabilitation
or replacement of the facility, thus indicating that the bridge was of significant
importance.
- USE OF HIGHWAY BRIDGE REPLACEMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM (HBRRP)
FUNDS FOR APPROACH ROADWAY CONSTRUCTION (23 CFR 650.413). The FHWA is
concerned that in some instances approach roadway costs associated with HBRRP
projects are excessive to the point of not falling within the congressional
intent for the program "to improve deficient bridges." States and local entities
are encouraged to use other categories of funds for approach roadways and
miscellaneous non-bridge items. Also the FHWA Division offices are directed
to:
- Review and revise policy relating to inclusion of approach roadway
items in HBRRP projects to provide for more national uniformity in bridge
program management and minimize approach roadway project costs. This action
should result in a nationwide average of no more than 10 percent.
- Review the overall HBRRP where average bridge expenditures are not
a high percentage of all HBRRP funds obligated and make appropriate changes
to provide more national uniformity in bridge program management
.
- PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF BRIDGE LOAD POSTING SIGNS WITH HIGHWAY
BRIDGE REPLACEMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM FUNDS (23 CFR 650.413).
The FHWA has determined that it is consistent with the purpose of the HBRRP
to allow the use of bridge program funds to purchase and install load posting
signs to protect the public until such bridges can be replaced or rehabilitated.
Therefore, the initial set of load posting signs immediately adjacent to the
bridge is considered eligible for HBRRP funds.
- HIGHWAY BRIDGE REPLACEMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM - HISTORIC BRIDGES
(23 CFR 650.413). The FHWA has determined that it is consistent with the
purpose of the HBRRP to allow the use of bridge program apportioned funds
to inventory bridges for historic significance.
- HIGHWAY BRIDGE REPLACEMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM FUNDING OF BRIDGE
INSPECTIONS (23 CFR 650.413). The FHWA has determined that it is consistent
with the purpose of the HBRRP to allow the use of bridge program funds for
the biennial continued inspection of bridges.
- HIGHWAY BRIDGE REPLACEMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM (23 CFR 650.409).
The National Bridge Inventory will be used for preparing the selection list
of bridges both on and off of Federal-aid highways. Highway bridges considered
structurally deficient or functionally obsolete and with a sufficiency rating
of 80 or less will be used for the selection list. Those bridges appearing
on the list with a sufficiency rating of less than 50.0 will be eligible for
replacement or rehabilitation while those with a sufficiency rating of 80.0
or less will be eligible for rehabilitation. To be considered for the classification
of deficient bridge, a structure must be of bridge length, and had not been
constructed or had major reconstruction within the past 10 years.
- General Qualifications: In order to be considered for either
the structurally deficient or functionally obsolete classification a highway
bridge must meet the following:
Structurally Deficient -
- A condition rating of 4 or less for
- Item 58 - Deck; or
- Item 59 - Superstructures; or
- Item 60 - Substructures; or
- Item 62 - Culvert and Retaining Walls.(1)
or
- An appraisal rating of 2 or less for
- Item 67 - Structural Condition; or
- Item 71 - Waterway Adequacy.(2)
Functionally Obsolete -
- An appraisal rating of 3 or less for
- Item 68 - Deck Geometry; or
- Item 69 - Underclearances;(3)
or
- Item 72 - Approach Roadway Alignment. or
- An appraisal rating of 3 for
- Item 67 - Structural Condition; or
- Item 71 - Waterway Adequacy.(2)
- Any bridge classified as structurally deficient is excluded
from the functionally obsolete category.
1. Item 62 applies only if the last digit of Item 43 is
coded 19.
2. Item 71 applies only if the last digit of Item 42 is
coded 0, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9.
3. Item 69 applies only if the last digit of Item 42 is
coded 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 or 8.