FHWA Resource Center
CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM
Solutions
Accelerated Construction Technology Transfer (ACTT)
Problem: An aging system faces increasing traffic demand
Highway construction has intensified in recent years to address two challenges. First, much of the Nation's aging highway infrastructure was built during the 1950s and 1960s and needs to be rehabilitated or replaced. Second, although highway capacity remained virtually unchanged during the past several decades, traffic demand increased tremendously, causing high levels of congestion. Large construction projects to improve outdated roads and bridges compound traffic problems during extensive construction periods. Today's motorists demand high-quality roads, but they want them put in place as quickly as possible; they will not settle for a"business as usual" approach.
Putting It in Perspective
Increasing demand (1980-2000):
- Vehicle miles of travel increased by 80 percent.
- Licensed drivers increased by 31 percent.
- Lane miles increased by only 3.8 percent.
An aging system:
- Forty percent of all bridges are more than 40 years old.
- When these bridges were constructed, design life was often 50 years.
- Most pavement designs have a 20-year life expectancy.
Solution: Accelerated Construction Technology Transfer (ACTT) effectively reduces construction time while enhancing quality and safety on highways
ACTT aims to reduce construction time dramatically, saving money and improving safety and quality by minimizing the delays and hazards associated with work zones.
What is ACTT?
ACTT is a strategic process that uses various innovative techniques, strategies, and technologies to minimize actual construction time, while enhancing quality and safety on today's large, complex multiphase projects. Sponsored by the American Association of
State Highway and Transportation Officials' (AASHTO) Technology Implementation Group (TIG) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the ACTT process begins with a 2-day workshop in which a multidisciplinary team of 20 to 30 national transportation experts works with an equal number of their local counterparts to evaluate all aspects of a project and develop recommendations for reducing construction time and enhancing safety and quality.
Key to the success is a team of experts working together in a coordinated, strategic approach to ensure that the project is completed better, faster, and safer. ACTT skill sets include:
- Right-of-way/utilities/railroad.
- Traffic engineering/safety/intelligent transportation systems.
- Structures.
- Innovative financing and contracting.
- Worker health and safety.
- Geotechnical/materials/accelerated testing.
- Long-life pavements/maintenance.
- Construction (techniques, automation, constructability).
- Environment/context sensitive design.
- Roadway design/geometries.
- Public relations.
Benefits
- Reduces construction time.
- Mitigates congestion.
- Improves safety and quality.
Successful Applications: ACTT workshops and Project Pegasus
Transportation Research Board Task Force A5T60 was formed in 1999 to promote accelerated construction in highway infrastructure. In 2002, the task force completed two ACTT pilot workshops in Indiana and Pennsylvania. FHWA has continued the effort, and 21 State departments of transportation (DOT) and toll authority owners have hosted 24 workshops, including workshops in California, Iowa, New Jersey, Texas, and Washington State. Many other States are in the planning phase for the workshop, including Hawaii, Ohio, and New York State. In addition, as of December 2005, at least six other States are considering hosting a workshop.
In September 2003, the Texas DOT hosted an ACTT workshop on how to accelerate Project Pegasus, an initiative aimed at redesigning and improving I-30 and I-35 East, the two major U.S. interstates that serve downtown Dallas, TX. These heavily congested freeways have outdated layouts. In many locations, ramps lack adequate acceleration or deceleration lengths, interchanges and ramps are too close together, and bridges have limited vertical and horizontal clearances, among other problems. The project requires weaving construction around railroad tracks, major employment sites, four city parks, and the Dealey Plaza historic district.
Workshop recommendations for accelerating the project included using design-build contracting; coordinating with utility companies early in the project planning process; using long-life pavements with a 50-year design lifespan; improving general materials specifications; establishing a dedicated incident management system at the project site; and introducing various traffic flow strategies. The goal of the accelerated construction plan is to complete the $760 million project in 4 years--3 years earlier than the original estimate. Over the past 2 years, each workshop has provided the host with a tailored list of recommendations similar to those made for Project Pegasus. These recommendations are at the heart of the success of the ACTT program.
Deployment Statement
State DOTs can use ACTT to help identify techniques and technologies that will reduce construction time while enhancing quality and safety. State DOTs may use Federal-aid funding, with approval from the local FHWA Division Office, to plan and facilitate an ACTT workshop. The ultimate objective is to reduce construction time and enhance quality and safety on large, complex highway projects.
Deployment Goal
By September 2006, ACTT will be institutionalized as a standard practice in the project delivery process.
Deployment Status
Twenty-four ACTT workshops have been completed so far, with five additional workshops scheduled for the future.
Additional Resources
To learn more about AASHTO-TIG's approved technologies. For more information on ACTT.
For more information, contact:
James Sorenson, FHWA Office of Asset Management
Phone: 202-366-1333
E-mail: james.sorenson@fhwa.dot.gov
Jerry R. Blanding, FHWA Resource Center
Phone: 410-962-2253
E-mail: jerry.blanding@fhwa.dot.gov
To request additional copies of this publication, contact:
Carin Michel, FHWA Resource Center
Phone: 410-962-2530
E-mail: carin.michel@fhwa.dot.gov
TaMara McCrae, FHWA Corporate Research and Technology
Phone: 202-493-3382
E-mail: tamara.mccrae@fhwa.dot.gov
FHWA-HRT-06-054
HRTC-01/01-06(1M)E
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
