U.S. DOT awards grants for projects that use innovative construction technologies

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced on March 9 more than $9.5 million for 15 projects in 13 states and Puerto Rico that employ innovative construction technologies that more quickly and efficiently improve safety, reduce congestion and create high-quality, long-lasting highways and bridges.

“President Obama has urged us to win the future by encouraging American innovation,” said LaHood. “This money will pay for technologies that will help states build smarter, better, faster, cheaper and with less impact on the traveling public.”

Administered through the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Highways for LIFE program, the money is intended to encourage use of proven technologies and practices that are not yet widely used. These 15 projects will use innovations such as prefabricated bridge elements, precast concrete pavement slabs, warm-mix asphalt, road safety audits and paving techniques on the road shoulders to reduce traffic accidents.

“These grants give states an opportunity to use technologies they might not normally consider,” said Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez. “These innovative techniques can save money, reduce construction times and deliver roads and bridges that are safer and last longer.”

The grants were grouped by those that focused on providing faster construction, those that focused on longer life and those that allowed for less traffic disruption. For a complete list of projects that received the grants, go to www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/.