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“By using aspects of our organization that distinguish us, namely the breadth and depth of our members, we achieve consistent engagement for transportation construction professionals across the country. ” ARTBA President & CEO Dave Bauer, p. 8 ON THE COVER

Smart Design & 10-35 Construction 2.0 These firms and agencies contributed articles: INSIGHTS • AASHTO • AIT Bridges Chairman's Corner, p. 6 • BrandSafway Dave Bauer: The Arena, p. 8 • FHWA • HaulHub Eye on Economics, p. 36 • HDR • Hillsboro, Virginia (Volkert and Regulatory Roundup, p. 39 Archer Western) • HNTB AEM Corner, p. 41 • Infrastructure Ventures • North Carolina Turnpike Authority • Resensys Cover photo: Grist Mill Bridge replacement project. • Skanska Photo by: Christian Wilfong • Trimble • WSP USA

July-August 2021 transportationbuilder.org | 3 ADVERTISER INDEX

CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT, PRODUCTS & SERVICES ® AIT Bridges, p. 34

GOMACO Corp., p. 21

Heritage Construction & Materials, p. 33 “Transportation Builder”(TB) is the official publication of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). We bring together all facets of the transportation construction industry to responsibly advocate for infrastructure investment MAX USA Corp., p. 25 and policy that meet the nation’s need for safe and efficient travel. ARTBA also offers value-added programs and services providing its members with a competitive edge. TB is the primary source of business, legislative, regulatory, safety and Reef Industries Inc., p. 5 economic news that matters most to transportation development professionals. Wirtgen America Inc., p. 7

Zekelman Industries, p. 14, p. 28 STAFF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Chairman: Steve McGough HIGHWAY SAFETY PRODUCTS & RESOURCES PUBLISHER Dave Bauer HCSS, Sugar Land, Texas Senior Vice Chairman: Ward Nye Excavating & Trenching Safety Training, p. 40 EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Martin Marietta, Raleigh, N.C. Mark Holan First Vice Chairman: Tim Duit Federal Highway Administration Safety [email protected] Duit Construction Co., Inc., Edmond, Okla. Training, p. 38 Northeastern Region Vice Chair: David Harwood SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING MANAGER Terracon, Olathe, Kan. Hill & Smith, p. 22 Carrie Halpern Central Region Vice Chair: Jim Fehsenfeld [email protected] Heritage Construction & Materials, Indianapolis, Ind. Impact Absorption, p. 2 Southern Region Vice Chair: Jeff Nelson CONTRIBUTORS David Nelson Construction Co., Palm Harbor, Fla. National Work Zone Safety Clearinghouse, p. 17 Western Region Vice Chair: Lisa Robert Dr. Alison Premo Black RS&H, Inc., Denver, Colo. PSS, p. 27 ARTBA Chief Economist Vice Chair At-Large: Kevin Cornish AECOM, Orlando, Fla. TrafFix Devices Inc., p. 43 Nick Goldstein Vice Chair At-Large: Tony Fassino ARTBA Vice President of Regulatory & Legal Issues Caterpillar Inc., Deerfield, Ill. Trinity Highway Products, p. 29 Vice Chair At-Large: Paula Hammond Josh Hurwitz WSP USA, Seattle, Wash. ARTBA Senior Economist Vice Chair At-Large: Randy Lake PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CRH Americas Materials, Inc., Atlanta, Ga. Smart Design & Construction 2.0 Contributors Vice Chair At-Large: Tom O'Grady Northwestern Mutual, p. 24 See page 3 HNTB, Kansas City, Mo. Vice Chair At-Large: Michael Vecellio SOFTWARE Vecellio Group, Inc., West Palm Beach, Fla. Vice Chair At-Large: Dave Zanetell HCSS Construction Software, p. 44 Kraemer North America, Castle Rock, Colo. Treasurer: Tom Hill Summit Materials, LLC, Denver, Colo. ARTBA Secretary: David Bauer ARTBA, Washington, D.C. Foundation Website, p. 30 ARTBA Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman: Paul Yarossi HNTB Corporation, New York, N.Y. Interactive Dashboards, p. 36 ARTBA Foundation Board of Trustees Vice Chairman: David Zachry Zachry Corporation & Zachry Construction Corporation, San Antonio, Texas National Convention, p. 9 Joint Committee Co-Chair: Tim Creson Coraopolis, Pa. Regional Meetings, p. 42 Contractors Division President: Joe Cutillo Sterling Construction Company, The Woodlands, Texas Contractors Division First Vice President: Michael Glezer Wagman Heavy Civil, Inc., York, Pa. AEM Representative: Stephen Roy Volvo Construction Equipment, Greensboro, N.C. Research & Education Division President: Dr. Karen Philbrick San Jose State University, Mineta Transportation Institute, San Jose, Calif. M&S Division President: Ben Robuck CEMEX USA, Newnan, Ga. P&D Division President: Jihane Fazio AECOM, Piscataway, N.J. P3 Division President: David Spector KPMG LLP, Denver, Colo. ADVERTISE WITH US TSID President: Laura Huizinga Transportation Builder® (ISSN 1043-4054) is published bi-monthly Lindsay Transportation Solutions, Omaha, Neb. Promote your company’s products and by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association TOD President: Brian Ness services in “Transportation Builder!” (ARTBA). Postmaster: Send change of address to Transportation Idaho Transportation Department, Boise, Idaho Contact Dave Weidner at 202.683.1026 or Builder®, c/o ARTBA, 250 E. Street, S.W., Suite 900, Washington, Council of State Executives Chairman: Tom Layfield [email protected]. See our 2021 Media Kit under D.C. 20024. Phone: 202.289.4434, Fax: 202.289.4435, artba.org; Alabama Road Builders Association, Montgomery, Ala. the “News” tab at artba.org. [email protected]. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C., Immediate Past Chairman: Robert Alger and additional mailing offices. Subscriptions are $105/year SNC-Lavalin, Avon, Conn. Past Chairman's Council Chairman: James R. Madara “ARTBA reserves the right, at its discretion and without liability for ARTBA members, which is included in the dues; $120/year Gannett Fleming, Inc., Allentown, Pa. of any nature whatsoever, to reject, cancel or suspend any for non-members; and $200/year non-U.S. mailing addresses. Industry Leader Development Council: Sofia Berger advertising in whole or in part, in which case any fees paid in Copyright ©2021 ARTBA. All rights reserved. Material may not WSP USA, New York, N.Y. advance shall be refunded to the advertiser on a pro-rata basis.” be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Visit us: transportationbuilder.org

4 | transportationbuilder.org July-August 2021 EDITOR’S NOTE MARK HOLAN | Editorial Director CONCRETE CURING COVERS Sign Laws, Then Get to Work Rebuilding America

June 29 marked the 65th anniversary of President Dwight D. Eisenhower signing the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, the law that created the Interstate Highway System and the Highway Trust Fund that helps pay for the work.

We remain cautiously optimistic President Joe Biden will sign historic legislation this year that expands much-needed investment in America’s roads, bridges, and public transit networks to help ensure they meet Mark Holan the mobility and economic needs of this century. Editorial Director [email protected] This, in turn, will mean new market development opportunities for ARTBA members.

Within two months of Ike’s signature on the ’56 Highway Act, state agencies in Missouri and Kansas awarded three contracts for work that became the first segments of the Interstate highways:

• U.S. 66—now Interstate 44—in Laclede County, about 60 miles northeast of Springfield, Missouri;

• U.S. 40—now Interstate 70—the Mark Twain Expressway, in St. Charles County, just west of St. Louis; and

• U.S. 40—Interstate 70—a few miles west of Topeka, Kansas.

Missouri proudly claimed the “first” contracts signed, and construction started, under provisions of the new law. In November 1956, Kansas Gov. Fred Hall snipped a ribbon to open a newly paved eight-mile stretch of road, identified by a sign as the first project completed on the Interstate system.

The new national program was “the biggest construction job in history,” the Wichita Eagle reported.

The story doesn’t mention the number of jobs created or the economic benefits to Topeka and the rest of the state. But we know those benefits were there. The Interstates’ “positive impacts on national and state ® economies, our quality of life and personal mobility have greatly surpassed armorlon expectations,” ARTBA CEO Dave Bauer said in a June statement about the 65th anniversary. INDOOR OUR OUTDOOR USE Let’s hope the work repairing and renewing America’s transportation network HIGH TEAR RESISTANT gets underway soon. REUSABLE

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July-August 2021 transportationbuilder.org | 5 CHAIRMAN'S CORNER STEVE MCGOUGH | President & CFO, HCSS

New ARTBA Forums Successfully Building Policy Consensus

When ARTBA’s Strategic Planning Committee put transportation design and construction industry, the final touches on the plan’s five objectives in spring ARTBA supports the adoption of open data 2020, #4 envisioned the development of “cross-divisional standards, the model as the legal document (MALD), discussion forums” for members to craft focused policy and modern, commercially proven, and competitively initiatives. Fast forward a little more than a year and that acquired digital construction technologies and is exactly what has been happening. processes for infrastructure projects.

The Innovation & Technology Forum, chaired by Trimble Now the forum will work on outreach to applicable Executive Chairman Steve Berglund and including industry groups, Congress, and the administration to representatives from across ARTBA's membership disseminate and invite more discussion about this topic. divisions, completed a digital construction policy statement that reflects the various perspectives. The two other forums are also making progress.

This statement defines digital construction and establishes The Safety Forum developed a Positive Protection ARTBA’s support for this technology. It seems only policy to guide ARTBA’s legislative and regulatory efforts appropriate to highlight it given this issue’s focus on related to using barriers in roadway work zones. It will be “smart design and construction.” presented to the board for review at its meeting during the national convention in late September. All membership divisions were given the opportunity to provide feedback on the concept of digital construction. The Construction Forum, through a multi-divisional work Lead authors included Cyndee Hoagland (Trimble), Matt group, is reviewing and getting feedback on potential Blake (Lane Construction) and Will Sharp (HDR). recommendations related to Risk & Alternative Delivery.

Approved unanimously by ARTBA’s Board in May, the In short, the forum structure is working. We are statement reads: empowering policymaking through task-oriented groups, focused on specific missions and issues within a defined Digital construction is defined as commercially proven time frame. The work product from these forums will digital technologies and processes for management enable ARTBA to be an even stronger advocate for the of construction and engineering activities, including membership and the industry. systems for infrastructure project procurement, planning and coordination, construction, digital To learn more about how you can get engaged in the as-builts, e-Ticketing, operations and maintenance, ARTBA forums, contact: modernization and management, asset management systems for machines, site equipment, and personnel. • Innovation & Technology: Allison Klein, [email protected] • Construction: Rich Juliano, [email protected] Digital construction technologies will provide • Safety: Brad Sant, [email protected] mechanisms and processes to decrease and more properly allocate project risk, reduce schedule

uncertainty, increase productivity and efficiency, lower cost, and deliver safer, higher quality, and

environmentally sustainable infrastructure projects. In order to accelerate innovation in the U.S.

6 | transportationbuilder.org July-August 2021

THE ARENA DAVE BAUER | President & CEO, ARTBA

ARTBA Punches Above Its Weight

Famed boxer Jack Dempsey leveraged his exceptional power to defeat much heavier and stronger ring opponents. The prowess of his techniques distinguished him from other boxers and led to several heavyweight titles.

In the same vein, ARTBA has long embraced the need to punch above its weight to secure the transportation network all Americans need.

By using aspects of our organization that distinguish us, namely the breadth and depth of our members, we achieve consistent engagement for transportation construction professionals across the country. In recent months, the association and its activists have been highly effective in helping advance the infrastructure policy discussions in Washington, educating lawmakers and pressing for action. These partnerships allow ARTBA’s footprint on Capitol Hill to expand beyond what our staff could accomplish on its own. Welcome Back ARTBA’s state chapter affiliates and D.C. staff together hosted 22 briefings for state congressional delegations to discuss our shared priorities for a surface transportation reauthorization bill. These sessions were well-attended and provided an opportunity to explain the role long-term federal transportation investment plays in a state’s economic development.

Our state chapter executives and members of the Transportation Investment Advocates Council teamed up with ARTBA staff to deliver 50 letters to each U.S. senator urging action on infrastructure. By reaching out to their allied networks, they were able to help generate participation from nearly 400 state and local groups across the country. From traditional transportation supporters to agriculture groups and chambers of commerce, ARTBA’s team of advocates demonstrated the extensive support for major transportation infrastructure investment during a critical time.

Individual ARTBA members haven’t missed the opportunity to step up and assist advocacy efforts, either. Over the course of 24 hours in June, nearly 400 communications were sent to the U.S. House of Representatives urging passage of the INVEST in America Act. Similarly, 600 activists—in less than one week in July—urged their senators to support the bipartisan surface transportation reauthorization/infrastructure measure advancing through that chamber.

ARTBA’s initiatives would not be possible without generous support from Transportation Makes America Work (TMAW) program contributors. The program allows us to lead coalitions, support legal efforts and expand our grassroots network—all within the singular mission to grow the transportation construction market. TMAW support helped facilitate a new Transportation Construction Coalition digital and social media ad campaign targeting Congress throughout July.

Sustaining and building on these levels of engagement will be essential as we work to ensure Congress and the Biden administration finalize robust federal infrastructure investment legislation. When we gather in late September at ARTBA’s national convention in Pinehurst, North Carolina, I look forward to thanking many of you personally for helping us punch above our weight.

8 | transportationbuilder.org July-August 2021 ARTBA’s National Convention Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina

Welcome Back September 26-29, 2021

Virtual meeting access artbanationalconvention.org will also be offered. Smart Design & Construction 2.0 Maximizing Transportation Investment Via Innovation & Technology

10 | transportationbuilder.org July-August 2021 Two broad themes emerge in pages 10-35 of our second annual “Smart Design & Construction” feature—an initiative championed by ARTBA Chairman Steve McGough. The first is the need to integrate technology and innovation into project delivery and workforce recruitment and retention. The second is how such modernization bolsters construction site safety, improves private sector return on investment, and enhances taxpayer value.

These are not just abstract concepts. Our stories show how smart design and construction is being applied across America: from a multi-faceted road and infrastructure project in tiny Hillsboro, Virginia, to the renovation of an historic bridge in Minneapolis; from toll roads in North Carolina to busy Interstate 15 near Los Angeles.

But we also offer a few thought pieces to peek at ideas that still are only on the drawing board.

We hope you enjoy the content on the following pages from our 14 guest editorial contributors.

July-August 2021 transportationbuilder.org | 11 What We Can Do Today to Promote Better Connected & Automated Technologies Tomorrow

By Katie McLaughlin [email protected]

Automated vehicles and connected infrastructure promise smarter, safer transportation networks. Resolving the challenges of designing vehicles that safely and independently operate in varying conditions is taking longer than optimistic estimates projected just a few years ago. But the need for transportation professionals to design, build, and support a safer transportation network remains as urgent as ever. Last year, for example, U.S. roadway deaths increased even as traffic volumes decreased due to the • Connected vehicle deployments: In the past, infrastructure construction COVID-19 pandemic. Applications leverage real-time and vehicle technology development communications to enhance work evolved with limited cooperation, and Available technology or systems under zone safety, support signal priority any coordination was primarily reactive. development can help improve safety, and preemption, and disseminate For instance, governments built whether roads are navigated by human traveler information. limited-access highways in response to drivers, computers, or a combination faster automobiles. Then, automakers of both. These include systems that Stakeholder communication and deployed cruise control for these freer- intervene in emergency situations faster coordination between automakers flowing roads and to address driver than humans can react, sensors to alert and technology developers, fatigue and motorists’ desire for more drivers of collision risks outside their line infrastructure owners and operators, fuel-efficient, steady-speed travel. Now, of sight, or devices that communicate safety authorities, and community infrastructure and vehicle technology vital information in real time. representatives is essential to development must align to ensure successfully rolling out these compatibility and standardization Technologies being adopted include: systems. Many stakeholders are of vehicle-to-infrastructure already engaged in advocating for communications systems. Collaborative • Collision avoidance systems: transportation technology to enhance decisions need to be made on which Transit agencies nationwide have roadway safety. This was demonstrated applications and systems to prioritize piloted and deployed these systems by the hundreds of comments to the and what tradeoffs are necessary. to help their drivers avoid road Federal Communications Commission users in the blind spots of transit opposed to the agency’s proposal to Lessons from research, early vehicles. limit transportation industry bandwidth deployments, and strategic planning • Active pedestrian detection: that supports such systems. exercises can help stakeholders Pedestrians, cyclists, and establish consistent, data-driven and motorcyclists, often less visible Collaboration and communication proactive policies and standards. Then, and less protected than other between roadway users and their as automated vehicle and connected roadway users, account for about representatives must continue. This infrastructure technologies continue to one-third of all traffic deaths. New includes while crafting public policies, advance, these frameworks can help infrastructure- or vehicle-based designing and building infrastructure, maximize the benefits and create safer systems can help reduce injury and and real-time roadway operations in roadways. fatality collisions. safety-critical situations.

Katie McLaughlin, P.E., is a consultant at WSP USA.

12 | transportationbuilder.org July-August 2021 Using Innovative Equipment to Improve Safety and Efficiency

By Brandon Liesemeyer [email protected]

Riverside County, southeast of downtown Los Angeles, has Skanska found an innovative solution to the challenge: using a reputation for some of the worst traffic in the nation. But two 85-ton gantry cranes. The gantry cranes are 40-feet-tall global construction and development firm Skanska improved and 60-feet-wide. Each was fitted with two independent hooks the commute on Interstate 15 (I-15) in a safe, efficient, and capable of lifting 170,000 pounds. The cranes traveled on innovative way using gantry cranes. 8-foot-tall rubber tires, from the existing parallel bridges and were isolated from the live traffic with temporary rail. Additionally, This $275 million design-build project for the Riverside the gantry cranes were used in the construction of the bridge’s County Transportation Commission (RCTC) and California 10 pier walls to install steel reinforcing and form work. Department of Transportation (Caltrans) also includes Ames, in association with AZTEC Engineering. Opened in January, it Electing to use the gantry cranes significantly enhanced adds two express lanes to I-15 in each direction, from Cajalco safety, environmental, and public impacts by achieving the Road to State Route 60. The overall project consisted of 15 following during the project: miles of paving, six retaining walls, nine sound walls, and 11 bridge widenings. • Eliminating exposure: By eliminating worker exposure to live traffic on the Santa Ana River Bridge, all work was It also widened the 1,829-foot Santa Ana River Bridge, the performed behind the K-rail and away from traffic, in lieu longest span on the project. The bridge consists of 115 cast- of under-lane closures. in-steel-shell (CISS) piles, supporting 10 pier walls, that in turn • Fewer freeway closures: According to the RCTC, using support 65 of some of the longest precast girders ever erected gantry cranes reduced full freeway closures for the entire on a Caltrans structure, and the heaviest set in California. project by 80 percent and the number of lane closures by 50 percent. Subsequently, this also allowed work during The largest of the girders are 176-feet-long, 7.5-feet-tall, the day rather than at night. and weigh 265,000 pounds. Girders of this magnitude • Removing falsework from the bridge presented significant safety challenges. The particulars of this Preventing falls: structure, using gantry cranes and precast girders structure increased the concerns, which included flooding, reduced the exposure to falls, and the use of fall exposure to traffic, and difficulty accessing the site with the protection significantly. necessary equipment. • Less environmental exposure to the river: The approach eliminated the exposure of large conventional cranes in the freeway and riverbed. Work in the congested, difficult-to-access river bottom was also significantly reduced. • Increased production: The gantry cranes were exceptionally efficient setting each girder in less than one hour with a higher factor of safety than conventional cranes.

By opting to use gantry cranes, the I-15 project prioritized the safety of employees, took advantage of day and nighttime schedules, and reduced the impact on commuters and the environment. This is the sort of smart planning and innovation that is crucial to the future of the construction industry to ensure that progress never stalls.

Brandon Liesemeyer, P.E., is a project executive at Skanska. Photo courtesy of Skanska

July-August 2021 transportationbuilder.org | 13 OUR LARGEST SIZES EVER ARE (ALMOST) READY TO ROLL.

We’re about to start rolling the world’s largest ERW pipe at our new mill in Arkansas, with sizes from 10.75" to 28" and walls 0.250" to 1" thick. All of our pipe is 100% domestic with full traceability, ready to service both the public and private markets.

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21-ZI-4787_pm_Jumbo HSS Media Management FY2021_American Road & Transport Builders Association_8.375x10.875_v1.indd 1 7/12/21 1:01 PM Faster, stronger, safer OUR LARGEST Why digital twins are transforming how we deliver and maintain assets

By Jeff Siegel [email protected] SIZES EVER ARE (ALMOST) Emerging 3D modeling and related technologies could soon help engineers detect interdisciplinary design clashes earlier in project development, or allow bridge elements to notify roadway managers of component failure to avert a tragedy. The model, referred to as a “digital twin” of a physical or future asset, is a dynamic, evolving 3D virtual replica of a roadway READY TO ROLL. system, bridge, tunnel, or other infrastructure. It’s helping the U.S. transportation industry build stronger, higher quality, more resilient assets faster with far less risk.

We’re about to start rolling the world’s largest ERW A Single Source of Truth A digital twin pulls data from multiple fact-based sources, pipe at our new mill in Arkansas, with sizes from including CAD models, building information models, geospatial data, parametric models, schedule and cost 10.75" to 28" and walls 0.250" to 1" thick. All of our models, and sensors and monitoring systems. It is a common pipe is 100% domestic with full traceability, ready data reference created during a project-planning stage and evolves through every phase of an asset’s lifecycle, from State AGENCIES Helping to service both the public and private markets. design to construction to operation and maintenance. The result is a comprehensive model that becomes the single source of truth for any question an owner may have during Develop a ‘Smarter’ Get Ready2Drive™ at project delivery and beyond: • What’s the optimal way to sequence construction? Transportation System atlastube.com/pipepiles • What are the most cost-effective start dates for specific elements to be constructed? By Sean Kilcarr • How is overall project cost impacted by including [email protected] additional materials to a roadway design?

Integrating e-Ticketing & As-Built Models Today’s state departments of transportation (DOTs) The emergence of digital twins dovetails with two new are deploying a variety of innovations—from new initiatives from the Federal Highway Administration’s Center infrastructure designs to technology systems—to ensure for Accelerating Innovation. The center has identified the nation’s multimodal transportation systems serve e-Ticketing—converting to digital all material ticketing local communities and regional economies by moving information—and digital as-built models as key initiatives for people and goods as safely and efficiently as possible. improving design and construction and providing owners with better information for asset management. These include reconstructing intersections to allow for the safer and smoother flow of motor vehicles, When information from as-built models and e-Ticketing pedestrians, and bicyclists alike. It also means is integrated into the digital twin, it can inform important deploying a combined digital sign/camera/radar system operations and maintenance decisions. Consulting the digital to create a “smart corridor” to reduce traffic congestion. twin can help answer such questions as: Following are some examples from state DOTs • How is the asset performing? around the country: COMING • When is the optimal time to schedule preventative THIS maintenance? See DOTs, 16 SEPTEMBER See Twins, 16

July-August 2021 transportationbuilder.org | 15

21-ZI-4787_pm_Jumbo HSS Media Management FY2021_American Road & Transport Builders Association_8.375x10.875_v1.indd 1 7/12/21 1:01 PM DOTs, from 15

Twins, from 15

• What is the estimated service life if we replace only a certain component of the structure?

Digital twins also can be useful budgeting tools for project planning. Referencing a digital twin from a similar project or asset, owners can quickly identify the sources of materials, their quantities, locations—even the amount of labor required. The Montana Department of Transportation built Real-World Examples Multiply a $13.5 million interchange in downtown Missoula Transportation agencies across the country are enlisting (pictured above) that not only addressed congestion the digital twin approach into their most significant and safety concerns, but also improved multimodal projects. The Chicago Department of Aviation has access and the environment. It features a series of embarked on the O’Hare 21 Program, the largest interlocking roundabouts and more than 50 new trees expansion and first major capital improvements to the and landscaping. airport’s passenger terminals in more than 25 years. The initial digital twin approach interfaces the preliminary The Ohio Department of Transportation developed tunnel system design with new terminal design models the $12 million “SmartLane” solution to reduce traffic for visualization as well as subsurface utilities for clash congestion on I-670 via a linked network of full-color detection, which already is providing benefits during early digital signs, cameras, and radar detectors that collect stages of the project. data on traffic speed and density. Since it opened in October 2019, ODOT says average travel speeds have The Florida Department of Transportation is revamping increased to 54 mph, halving most commute times. its design standards and preparing to replace traditional plan sets with 3D model deliverables. The Florida The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Turnpike Enterprise has developed an augmented reality used self-propelled modular transporters, or SPMTs, application to mesh the proposed roadway design with to complete the $14.55 million Shaler Street Bridge reality and improve land acquisition activities. replacement in Pittsburgh in just three days with minimum impact to traffic. SPMTs speed construction by removing The Indiana Department of Transportation is performing and replacing old bridge panels. proof-of-concept and validation tasks for seamless data exchange from design to construction to as-built asset The North Carolina Department of Transportation management. And, rather than force designers and built a 65-foot-high replacement for the Top Sail Bridge in contractors to use specific software vendors, the agency Surf City to eliminate the need for a drawbridge for boat is relying upon open-source technologies for 3D design passage while also improving motor vehicle traffic flow and construction data exchange. and access for pedestrians and bicyclists. The $58 million replacement bridge also has more structural capacity— Solution for the Backlog improving access between the mainland and island The timing of the transportation industry’s adoption during emergencies and other needs. of digital twins couldn’t be better. Digital innovation in design and construction is crucial to respond to the More examples can be found in “The Benefits of growing backlog of infrastructure needs, now estimated Transportation” report published by the American to be in the trillions of dollars. The digital twin approach Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials can help support the U.S. transportation system achieve (AASHTO). Visit benefits.transportation.org. a state of good repair and is a critical part of the strategy for long-term sustainability. Sean Kilcarr is senior editor at AASHTO.

Jeff Siegel is director of HNTB’s Technology Solutions Center.

16 | transportationbuilder.org July-August 2021 NATIONAL WORK ZONE SAFETY INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE

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Information provided by the National Workzone Safety Information Clearinghouse, award #693JJ31750009, does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration or the American Road & Transportation Builders Association-Transportation Development Foundation. References to specific products and services do not imply endorsement by the Clearinghouse, U.S. Department of Transportation or the Federal Highway Administration. How Big Data Can Reduce Construction-Related Traffic Complaints

By Luigi Casinelli [email protected]

Road builders and owners have usually avoided monitoring traffic outside of construction zones because it required installing expensive sensors or redirecting scarce personnel. Now they can quickly and inexpensively obtain road usage details due to the growth of big data.

Crowdsourced data from third-party vendors such as Waze, Inrix, Streetlight, HERE, and others offer robust sample sizes that allow engineers, construction companies, and Tracking traffic data during construction can develop better traffic transportation agencies to obtain a near real-time picture of plan maintenance and monitor ongoing construction impacts. traffic patterns. This improved data not only leads to more efficient roadway operations under normal conditions, it also can mean much more efficient construction, with numerous be managed at relatively low cost to reduce flow through a benefits for road builders. These include: construction zone. With a dashboard that can adjust signal timings daily, traffic can also be optimized for unique or Reduced complaints: Crowdsourced data can help track unusual events. which roadways have higher volumes and when the volume occurs so construction activities can be planned accordingly. Operational decisions: Getting access to this data—which The data can also offer more warning of unexpected traffic may be available for free from vendors such as Waze through problems coming from elsewhere, such as a major accident their partnership program—can build a 24/7, year-round traffic on a parallel road that causes drivers to detour. A field-ready profile for roads. For infrastructure owners, this means an dashboard on a smartphone or tablet can provide alerts about opportunity to better target construction projects, focusing on incidents that may cause a construction zone traffic surge. the streets and intersections that show the highest need or where their budget can have the most impact. It also allows Proven performance: Do not rely solely on complaints owners to work much more proactively, adjusting traffic signal as a traffic management metric. A dashboard built from timing daily if needed. crowdsourced data can track and demonstrate a contractor’s ability to manage traffic, providing impartial traffic flow and The constant stream of data gives engineers the information speed information that is not influenced by motorists’ mood. that is needed for an ever-changing roadway network. For example, when COVID-19 forced most commuters to Protect workers: Data helps predict when traffic is likely to quarantine at home, previously collected datasets were increase and provides alerts about unplanned events that may suddenly no longer representative of roadway conditions. In route more vehicles toward a construction site. This data allows the New York City region, an HDR-built traffic signal timing better planning of required lane closures and similar activities. dashboard allowed staff to monitor conditions in real time and direct traffic changes to minimize impacts to the public. Predict traffic: Data combined with modeling can develop better maintenance of traffic plans based on actual, recent In the future, this dashboard can help identify when fewer traffic flows instead of in-person counts completed months or drivers are on the roadways and extend construction roadway years ago. More accurate models ensure fewer driver delays permits. As needs change, this performance monitoring will and maximize time for construction. This data can also be allow agencies to react in near real-time to take reroute traffic used to explore the possibilities and benefits of providing more efficiently to benefit everyone. alternative access for construction vehicles such as a temporary road during construction. Big data represents a great opportunity for real-time operational decision making, proactive identification of issues, more accurate Manage traffic: With a better understanding of traffic volume traffic monitoring traffic and ultimately fewer complaints. highs and lows, it is easier to work with local transportation agencies to adjust signal timing outside the immediate construction zone. Using real-time data, upstream traffic can Luigi Casinelli is a senior professional associate at HDR.

18 | transportationbuilder.org July-August 2021 Digital Project Delivery and The Next Generation of Talent

By Matthew Valle [email protected]

Congress and the Biden administration are negotiating one of the most transformative infrastructure packages in U.S. history to ensure America remains competitive in the quickly changing global economy. One thing that is not up for debate is the urgent need for a talented workforce to plan, design, and build the roads and bridges of the future.

The next generation of laborers, equipment operators, architects, and engineers have been surrounded by technology since birth. Their daily lives are infused with digital experiences that offer new ways of communicating and managing workflows. It behooves us to transform the industry’s deep institutional knowledge to digital experiences that will excite, engage, and support this next generation of leaders.

About 41 percent of the U.S. construction workforce is set to retire over the next 10 years, according to research by McKinsey. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Labor says digital blueprints, building information modeling (BIM), and construction hiring declined by 107,000 even while job electronic materials tracking, are setting the foundation for openings increased by 23,000. digital project delivery.

These statistics point to the urgent need to bring all workforce Another critical component of FHWA's EDC-6 focuses development ideas to the table. Several initiatives are underway, on deploying innovations in e-Construction tools such including part of the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) as e-Ticketing and digital as-builts. These initiatives are Every Day Counts (EDC-6) program. Its Strategic Workforce being embraced by state transportation departments with Development initiative provides states with "new resources e-Ticketing, which FHWA says is the most widely adopted and innovative strategies for identifying, training, and placing EDC initiative. individuals in the contractors' workforce filling the construction jobs that support the Nation's highway system." This level of engagement, excitement, and momentum highlights the appetite for change and helps lay the foundation ARTBA has also taken a leadership role in creating a for full digital project delivery in the future. It also provides our workforce development initiative that brings together leaders industry with an opportunity to promote these innovations and from across the private sector to share ideas and develop forward-thinking to incoming talent. an action plan for recruiting talent. One of the strategies used to enhance the discussion about recruiting new talent As you engage with industry leadership peers and participate showcases how innovative digital tools are helping to improve in workforce development initiatives and strategies within your safety and performance on the job site. organizations, take time to think about the digital tools you are using to improve efficiency. Highlighting the use of these The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us new ways of working tools in your HR team's recruiting efforts, along with industry together and demonstrated how digital tools can help coordinate, association and classroom discussions, can help showcase communicate, and manage supply chains. These digital tools innovation and provide a mechanism to help attract talent into also will help bridge the talent gap and allow our industry your company and the industry. to manage operations from the plant to the job site more efficiently. Innovative tools such as machine guidance, Matthew Valle is the industry relations executive at HaulHub Technologies.

July-August 2021 transportationbuilder.org | 19 The Key to Infrastructure

The time is now to take the next steps Success: Technology

in digitizing U.S. infrastructure By Cyndee Hoagland [email protected]

As we emerge from the fog of the pandemic, and the United Aaron McClellan, construction technology manager for Granite States looks for ways to stimulate the economy, investment in our Construction, relates digital as-builts to wargaming. “The use of aging infrastructure offers great potential for social, economic, rehearsals and that wargaming concept,” explains McClellan, and environmental benefits. “allow us to use digital as-builts in conjunction with VR [virtual reality] and AR [augmented reality] tools to help visualize exactly To achieve success, however, requires more than fixing what is what’s going to come from [our strategy].” broken. We need to engage innovative solutions that connect the right information with the right people, enabling intelligent This saves time and resources. When preparing the team for decision-making throughout project life cycles. It starts with physical construction, contractors have a complete set of data understanding the value and context of available data, then using to work from, allowing the teams to work together in finding the that information to rethink the future of project delivery. optimal constructible solution to manage cost, time, resources, and waste. Technology enables all stakeholders to improve the This is the prevailing theme across the three video episodes in productivity, safety, and transparency on a project and deliver the Trimble Dimensions Spotlight Series on “Reviving the U.S. more sustainable, resilient infrastructure. Infrastructure.” Watch them at dimensions.trimble.com. Leadership to Drive Efficiency Technology to the Rescue Another benefit of digitization is an increase in efficiency. Digital One big change brought on by the pandemic is the accelerated models allow construction teams to complete projects with growth of global digitization, which opens new opportunities for less rework, meaning fewer resources, less machine time, and infrastructure projects to thrive. reduced overall impact. Collaboration between stakeholders is proving invaluable to both the short- and long-term success Project delays, budget issues, and the large carbon footprint left of projects like transportation infrastructure development. by the building and construction industry could all be reduced Forward-thinking project owners are actively engaged in better with technology designed to optimize the collection, processing, understanding the implications of gaps in dataflow to better and analysis of data—digital as-builts, for example. balance the outcomes and better predict the results.

Using digital as-builts, owners can provide in-depth descriptions Norm Anderson, chairman and CEO of CGLA Infrastructure, of the data that they want to see, engineers receive a better believes that bringing about the change we need requires understanding of expectations earlier in the process and leadership that is disruptive, adaptive, and heroic. The contractors can reduce rework. combination of these characteristics fosters the ability to take “mini moonshots”—smaller, yet influential steps toward sparking the beginning of the movement to a more efficient, technology- driven U.S. infrastructure.

Lasting Jobs for a Skilled Workforce A strong, digital workflow structure is only as good as the workforce behind it. Jose Luis Blanco, leader of McKinsey’s engineering and construction work in North America, notes the challenges presented by the fact that 40 percent of the construction industry will retire over the next few years. He emphasizes the need to prepare the future workforce with the skills needed to succeed in a digital world.

See Success, 23

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We are seeing some of the largest graduating classes of STEM students entering the job market with skills and goals positioned to help reshape the industry. “These tech natives,” says Blanco, “will be looking for purpose-driven careers where they can make an impact.” Articulating how a career in infrastructure offers exciting opportunities to learn and use new technologies while also contributing to a larger cause in local communities will be extremely beneficial to organizations in attracting new talent.

Reviving U.S. infrastructure has been dubbed a “generational investment” and is a hallmark of the current administration’s legacy toward building a strong future. With the right technologies, resources, and skills available, together we can deliver with confidence. The first step is taking action and the time is now.

Cyndee Hoagland is a senior vice president at Trimble Inc.

How Concrete Embeds Save Time & Money on Suspended Access Solutions Tenth Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis

By Doug Knapp [email protected]

Concrete embeds date back to the 1920s. But installing them to assist in bridge construction, inspection, maintenance, and repair is a more recent innovation.

Embedded anchors are low cost, compact weldments with a ferrule tapped to accept a threaded fastener. The “insert” is installed within the road deck rebar, flush with the bottom of the deck. It acts as the “nut” portion of the assembly and an anchor bolt gets connected to it.

The ongoing rehabilitation of the Tenth Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis demonstrates the utility and savings of using concrete embeds. Built in the late 1920s and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the bridge features seven reinforced concrete Contractor PCiRoads, St. Michaels, Minnesota, asked our arches, spanning the Mississippi River. About 10,000 vehicles company, BrandSafway, to engineer the access on spans four and hundreds of pedestrians and cyclists cross daily between and five over the river. Our QuikDeck® Suspended Access downtown Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota. System was selected to provide access on the project.

The bridge was last restored in 1976. Due to significant freeze- Work began on span five with drilling holes to suspend chains for thaw damage, leaking deck expansion joints, and drainage the access platforms. Once the chains were dropped through, problems, the structure is once again in need of extensive a crane was used to lift and lower the platform over the edge, repairs. The restoration that began in spring 2020 includes where workers in mobile snooper trucks would pivot the platform, replacing the road deck and concrete railing; patching piers and so each section was positioned under the arch and could be arches; replacing and patching deteriorated beams and spandrel connected to the suspension chains. columns; corrosion prevention treatment of the arch ribs; and a new surface finish of the entire bridge. See Embeds, 24

July-August 2021 transportationbuilder.org | 23 The advantage of concrete embeds add up quickly. Drilling a hole to insert an anchor into concrete takes approximately one hour per hole. Inserting an anchor into a concrete embed takes Embeds, from 23 about five minutes, which means over 300 hours were saved on the 320 embeds. On a job like this, where access could After securing the starter platform, and completing the center cost as much as $3.5 million, using concrete embeds saved section, we installed 18 tiers of QuikDeck, creating “steps” under approximately $250,000. The embeds also will save time and the entire arch, which allowed crews to work on every surface money when suspended access is needed for future inspections inch of the bridge on span five. or repairs.

However, when the scope of work expanded to include spans The Tenth Avenue Bridge rehabilitation is expected to be three, six and seven, the time required to drill holes to suspend completed later this year. Due to the advantages of the concrete the needed work platforms would have significantly delayed embeds on this project, a similar solution is being implemented the project. So instead of drilling holes, 320 embedded anchors on another nearby bridge restoration on Third Avenue in were installed to provide connection points. A rotating or pivoting Minneapolis. suspension point assembly (RSP) is then bolted into the embed. After the project is completed, the RSP is removed, but the embedded portion remains in the underside of the road deck for Doug Knapp is a product manager (Midwest) at BrandSafway. future use when access is needed on the bridge.

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By Ken Sweeney [email protected]

“Sustainability” has become an overused buzzword to describe everything from eco-friendly tuna fish to tourism. But sustainability has come to the construction and infrastructure sectors, and for good reason. We are going to need to repair and replace aging infrastructure in new ways.

This is not some visionary pipedream. Sustainability in infrastructure is becoming a policy prescription for a growing number of transportation infrastructure agencies, and something that all the stewards of our public infrastructure along with the contractors and manufacturers of the materials that are used in building it, are going to have to address in the coming years. Sustainability is no longer a green option. It will increasingly become a standard requirement. Grist Mill Bridge replacement project. There is a common misperception that the use of new materials Photo credit: Christian Wilfong such as composites in bridge building will result in having to pay a “premium price.” That is no longer valid. Having spent the last eight years working with some talented engineers and Over the last four years, ASCC collaborated with AIT to develop researchers in the industry and within our own company, the a composite beam that is now being applied to bridge building composites manufacturing infrastructure sector has evolved in Maine, Florida, Rhode Island, California, and Illinois. The and optimized the manufacturing process through innovation. manufacturing process has been optimized to the point where The result is several companies producing successful, proven, non-corrosive composites are now commercially competitive with and tested vehicle and pedestrian bridge systems using fiber- other more conventional bridge building materials. reinforced polymer components. Importantly, this has enhanced our sector’s ability to compete on price, and win on sustainability, For example, AIT Bridges recently completed the Grist Mill Bridge durability, and resiliency. replacement project for the Maine Department of Transportation. It was the first to use the GBeam technology, which allowed The headline of ARTBA’s 2021 Bridge Report says it all: “1 installment of two beams at once with all utilities connected. in 3 U.S. Bridges Needs Repair or Replacement.” That’s an The contractor needed only two days because of how easily the astonishing 45,000 bridges. lightweight materials can be handled. The $9 million project also included a few miles of road work. For the small and medium bridge market in particular, the use of composites makes sense, from both an economic and States, counties, and local governments all own bridges and are environmental standpoint. It will add life to bridges for states, always in need of adequate funds for highway and bridge repair local communities, and taxpayers. or replacement. For the construction and infrastructure industries, sustainability is more than a buzzword. It’s the future. Advanced Infrastructure Technologies and its AIT Bridges Division, based in Brewer, Maine, was formed to license and commercialize the use of Fiber Reinforced Polymers that are Ken Sweeney, P.E., ENV-SP, is group president and chief blended to create lighter, durable bridge materials. The AIT engineer of AIT Bridges, a division of Advanced Infrastructure Bridges arch and beam systems were invented and developed at Technologies. the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) in the mid-2000’s.

26 | transportationbuilder.org July-August 2021 Streamlining Project Delivery Throughout the Federal-Aid Highway Program

By Gregory G. Nadeau [email protected]

As Congress and the administration dramatically in other industries, and in the and robotics, building information modeling develop bipartisan legislation to provide case of public infrastructure, the cost of (BIM) and cloud computing, drone significant new investment in our nation’s this flat productivity is being borne by the monitoring and more. These technologies infrastructure, there is a once-in-a- U.S. taxpayer. are now in the field, revolutionizing not just generation opportunity for federal and state how roads and bridges are modeled and leadership to accelerate the transformation The good news is this is changing rapidly configured but how they are built. of public infrastructure agencies because it had to. responsible for delivering projects in an The cost savings resulting from the use of integrated digital world. Spurred in part by private sector innovation digital construction technology in project and a program called Every Day Counts—a delivery—to infrastructure owners, to While the commercial and industrial partnership between state departments of contractors, to state governments, and the world has embraced a wide array of new transportation and the Federal Highway public—are well documented, lowering digital technologies, the construction and Administration (FHWA), which since the cost of major construction projects infrastructure sectors have historically 2010 has worked to identify and deploy by as much as 25 percent, according to been slow to adapt. The result, according proven innovations—digital construction one review by the Florida Department of to a KPMG Global Construction Survey, is technology has slowly worked its way into Transportation. that productivity in construction has been today’s highway and bridge construction flat for decades while it has increased projects. This includes 3D modeling, AI See Federal-Aid, 28

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July-August 2021 transportationbuilder.org | 27 Federal-Aid, from 27 Company Profile: Atlas Tube, A Division of Zekelman Industries

But there is much the industry and Congress can do to speed the Our ERW steel pipe piles are the strongest adoption of this time and money-saving technology. As Abraham and most reliable in the industry. They support Lincoln said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I’ll bridges and structures for civil, private and spend the first four hours sharpening the axe.” As we prepare to government projects worldwide. We’re about administer trillions in urgently needed infrastructure investment over to start rolling the world’s largest ERW pipe at the next decade, let’s spend some time sharpening our axes. our new mill in Arkansas, with sizes from 10.75" to 28" and walls 0.250" to 1" thick. All our pipe In the current “Round 6” of the FHWA Every Day Counts partnership is 100% domestic with full traceability, ready to with the states, one of the seven initiatives is “e-Ticketing and service both the public and private markets. Digital As-Builts.” According to the May EDC-6 Summary and Baseline Report: Quality Product, Readily Available We meet all your needs, delivering quality • Forty-three states plan to be at the demonstration, assessment, product directly to your project site at a price or institutionalized stages of e-Ticketing at the end of EDC- that fits your budget. Our drop-in rollings 6, compared to 18 at the beginning. (An all-time record of and manufacturing process allow efficient participation for an EDC initiative.) turnarounds, even of large volumes. You • The number of states attaining the demonstration, assessment, can place orders and check inventory, rolling or institutionalized stages of digital as-builts is expected to grow schedules and available tons at atlastube.com. from 10 to 27. (A significant number, but we can do better.) There When You Need Us Widespread adoption of these initiatives across the state DOTs Our shipments are quick and cost-effective, so over the next two years will pay significant long-term dividends to you save time and money. We can run a length the taxpayers. They also provide critical leadership that influences of 16 x .500 85 feet long every 90 seconds, or county and local infrastructure agencies. our mills can produce more than 1,000/1,200 tons per shift. We can roll non-standard wall There are many champions of change working to advance digital thickness to save on the cost of the piles (by delivery transportation infrastructure across the spectrum in the having a thinner wall). Contact us anytime to find public and private sectors. Data-driven decision making is at the a stocking partner near you. core of the Federal-Aid Highway Program. There is incentive language supporting digital construction technology advancement Made and Melted in America in the states in both the Senate Environment and Public Works and When your domestic project requires products the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee versions of that meet ARRA’s strict standards, we will the five-year reauthorization of the surface transportation programs. ship your pipe piles directly from our facility in All that is needed is for policy leadership of our infrastructure Chicago. agencies to engage and support their champions of change and simply make this a priority. Green and Sustainable Our team supports your green initiatives. We use A whitepaper on Digital Construction Technology we developed innovative practices and technologies to reduce illustrates opportunities for streamlining project delivery in the waste and promote sustainability. Plus, steel’s Federal-Aid Highway Program. Digital delivery is the road to get high recycled content and high reclamation rate there. I attempt to make the policy case for this moon-shot moment make it the ideal material for green buildings and for how we deliver the nation’s public infrastructure. The whitepaper structures. is available for download infrastructureventures.com. atlastube.com 404.884.3409 Gregory G. Nadeau is chairman of Infrastructure Ventures and former administrator of the Federal Highway Administration in the Obama administration. PAID CONTENT

28 | transportationbuilder.org July-August 2021

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By Roger Vance [email protected]

Hillsboro, Virginia, is a tiny town of fewer than 200 souls. But our community 50 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., offers an important lesson for big cities when it comes to transportation and other infrastructure construction: leveraging partnerships.

In June, we completed a $30-million multi-faceted road and infrastructure project on Route 9 (Charles Town Pike), called ReThink9. The work included two traffic-calming roundabouts, raised crosswalks, sidewalks, a new drinking water system, wastewater and stormwater collection systems, underground power and communications, and state-of-the-art, dark-sky compliant streetlamps.

The project relieves congestion by improving traffic flow and enhances safety for motorists and pedestrians alike by reducing speeds along the narrow corridor through the historic town. Its success can be attributed to the work of two ARTBA member firms: Volkert, hired in 2016 to design and manage construction, and Archer Western, which was resources and ability to react to changed circumstance, awarded the construction contract in 2019. Our team also Hillsboro saved an estimated $11 million from the project’s collaborated closely with the Northern Virginia Transportation original cost and avoided what would have been years of Authority and Loudoun County funding partners, and the traffic disruption on Route 9. Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). “Together, we were able to collaboratively confront issues Originally projected to take three years, the project team used as they arose, quickly make decisions, and together find a data-driven process to analyze the productivity, including innovative solutions to safely deliver what is without question cost and time savings that could accrue from periods of a one-of-a-kind project,” said Archer Western project complete road closures, rather than working next to traffic. manager Matt Phillips. Using traffic analyses that confirmed minimal impact to commuters, a joint Town and VDOT decision reduced the “By tackling the construction of all infrastructure components construction schedule to 14 months and cut costs by more at once and forging collaborative partnerships, we than $5 million. significantly reduced costs and impacts to community residents and businesses and delivered a truly transformative Project partners further minimized commuter impacts project,” added Volkert Vice President Bobby Hester. and increased productivity by adjusting the sequence of construction and timeline of planned road closures The trust and true partnership Hillsboro developed during decreased traffic resulting from COVID-19 stay-at- with Volkert and Archer Western was the key to making home orders. this possible.

By coordinating funding and bundling the road construction with the drinking water, sanitary sewer, and utility infrastructure, Roger Vance is mayor of Hillsboro and project manager combined with the Town leaders’ dedication of time and for ReThink9.

July-August 2021 transportationbuilder.org | 31 Wireless Sensor Technology for Condition Based Asset Management

By Mehdi Kalantari [email protected]

Bridge inspection techniques and technologies are continuously database, used for ARTBA’s annual deficient bridges report, says evolving. Monitoring technologies have experienced tremendous there are more than 18,000 fracture critical bridges in the U.S. enhancements in the past two decades. Sensors have advanced The ability to monitor these bridges is game-changing. to where incorporating critical information is an easy and seamless process. Cost-effective, scalable solutions allow long- Such emerging monitoring technologies: term remote monitoring of bridges and other structures. • Provide high quality data and information that can be Here is a case study: automated and/ or integrated across platforms in budget- appropriate segments. On Dec. 20, 2020, the New Jersey Department of Transportation • Are cost-effective and easy to install and use so (NJDOT) found cracks on two girder beams on the Weldon Road organizations can prove their value and return on Bridge over Route 15, about 50 miles northwest of Manhattan. investment. It was closed immediately as a safety precaution. The damaged portion of the bridge was removed, and all lanes on Route 15 • Deliver intuitive software interfaces achieving fast and user- were reopened by early March. NJDOT also strengthened three friendly online performance, and efficient workflows based damaged beams and deployed a wireless monitoring system on specific actionable information to facilitate fast decision from Resensys to ensure the structure remains safe. making.

In April, we worked with NJDOT and Michael Baker International "Instrumentation of bridges is a powerful tool to get insight to quickly install a wireless and cloud-based monitoring system about the behavior of bridges and to detect the most subtle in less than two days. The system is intended to monitor the structural problems that may be invisible to the naked eye bridge for at least three years. It monitors strain, displacement, during visual inspections,” said Chung C. Fu, director of the acceleration, tilt, and temperature at 24 locations on the bridge. Bridge Engineering Software & Technology (BEST) Center of the University of Maryland at College Park. “Furthermore, wireless Wireless connected sensors, called SenSpot, immediately begin instrumentation technologies are even more advantageous providing condition awareness and uninterrupted monitoring. than wired systems, because given bridge sizes and expensive They can detect malfunction and send alert notifications if access, installing wiring systems can be costly." the conditions change, while monitoring strain with resolutions below 1 microstrain, Monitoring technologies are increasingly and displacement with resolutions at sub- being used to support the transportation micron accuracy, the equivalent of 1/100 the network that is so critical to the American way thickness of paper. of life. Their increased cost effectiveness, innovative capabilities (at the sensor, Monitoring systems can also be used in platform, data integration, and analytical large asset classes to proactively detect levels), and scalability mean that such early-stage structural issues. Examples monitoring technologies will become a include bridges where fast-running water common, yet powerful tool for long term asset scours the substructure and foundation, management. potentially leading to substantial damage. Another example is monitoring bridges known as “fracture critical,” where lack of Mehdi Kalantari, Ph.D., is president and CTO redundancy could mean that fracture of a at Resensys, LLC. The company’s Art Korfin single load-bearing member might cause a and Maria-Francesca Steyn also contributed. partial or full collapse. The Federal Highway Administration’s National Bridge Inventory

32 | transportationbuilder.org July-August 2021 The Future for Tolling is Now

By James “J.J.” Eden [email protected]

The COVID-19 pandemic required the U.S. tolling industry to quickly pivot and adapt to new work situations focused on customer and employee safety, with increased touchless interactions due to social distancing. But this was simply the next step in an already accelerated and continued time of change.

With Cloud- and Blockchain-oriented technologies bringing new car-based functionalities into the mainstream and automakers increasing efforts to manufacture vehicles that provide consumers the option of cashless transactions and Photo: North Carolina Turnpike Authority enabled payment across multiple platforms, it is incumbent that transportation leaders not only catch up, but also get ahead of this trend. its passengers. This constant flow of data can help vehicles better navigate, manage systems, and/or deliver important In the past, trends such as these have caught our industry off communications and services to passengers. guard, making us late to adjust to the needs of our systems, and most importantly, our customers. Modern cars and For example, Hyundai recently announced a new in-car payment accompanying technologies provide us with the opportunity to system that will debut in their Ioniq 5 crossover vehicle. It allows lead and become an integral part of the change. drivers to locate electric vehicle charging stations and pay for food and parking. The company says it plans to add more Using ITS payment categories in the future to enhance the connected Vehicles rolling off the assembly lines are computers on wheels, vehicle experience. using Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to continuously process and transmit data about itself, its surroundings, and See Tolling, 34

July-August 2021 transportationbuilder.org | 33 Tolling, from 33 operations. Alternatives such as Road User Charging (RUC) and congestion pricing are a part of that discussion. In Virginia, Cognizant and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are collaboratively implementing a Digital Tolling Solution for Elizabeth It is vital that the technology is in place to capture user River Crossings (ERC), a P3 partner with the Virginia Department information along with systems that can manage large numbers of Transportation. The end-to-end digital transformation will of accounts and seamlessly process high volumes of data. At the ultimately migrate and modernize ERC’s data center and back- North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA), we are working with office operations, as well as significantly enhance account, several companies on pilot projects that will allow us to leverage vehicle, payment and dispute management. innovation to participate in the mobile and digital economy. This includes testing new mobile tolling technologies, outsourcing Enhanced vehicle technology and digital information systems business processing functions, such as transponder fulfillment present enormous benefits and opportunities for the toll and increased automation. Piloting retail payment integrations industry, including global in-vehicle payments and improved enables us to leverage transponder technology to increase cross- interoperability between agencies and services. Since the ability platform payment options for our customers. to calculate fees based upon miles traveled already exists, more agencies are moving forward to leverage this capability. Tolling industry leaders must find sustainable solutions to funding This includes the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, which ongoing infrastructure needs, both at the federal and state levels. converted its entire system to electronic payments as a safety For that to happen, the industry must be open to change, expand measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. its vision, and willing to partner with new industries and emerging technology leaders. Otherwise, there is no doubt, we will be left The Path Forward behind and looking in the rearview mirror. Continued instability in the federal Highway Trust Fund and increased investment by auto companies in all-electric vehicles will further reduce fuel consumption and force federal and James “J.J.” Eden is executive director of the North Carolina state governments and toll agencies to rethink how they obtain Turnpike Authority. needed revenues to maintain, enhance, and keep safe roadway

34 | transportationbuilder.org July-August 2021 Innovative Approaches to Filling Highway Construction Jobs

By Karen Bobo [email protected]

The highway system affects every American. It connects people from distant corners of the continent, empowers a robust economy, provides ease of travel, and creates unprecedented opportunity.

This system, which delivers such significant benefits, also requires many people to build, maintain, and operate. But multiple public and private sector studies and reports have found there is trouble finding enough qualified workers. Photo: Natalie Forbes/Corbis Documentary/via Getty Images

EDC-6 Takes on Workforce Development The sixth round of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) there, but they are in little pockets across the country. We see our Every Day Counts (EDC-6) program includes a strategic role in EDC-6 as facilitators—finding those with the answers and workforce development initiative to help companies and agencies connecting them to people with similar challenges. overcome their workforce challenges. States Experiment with New Solutions This effort is a culmination of many years of work. In 2016, FHWA Several states have developed innovative approaches to fill partnered with multiple national agencies and organizations, highway construction jobs. While none has completely solved the with ARTBA serving a key role in helping establish the Highway puzzle, each has discovered a piece that might help. Construction Workforce Partnership (HCWP). A two-year HCWP pilot explored how industry could collaborate with the public The Idaho HCWP established a program that includes certifications workforce system to recruit, train, and retain highway construction in heavy equipment and hazardous waste operations; emergency workers. It was conducted in 12 locations—six state departments response training; Occupational Safety and Health Administration of transportation and six local public agencies. Based on the pilot 10-hour (OSHA-10) and National Center for Construction Education findings, FHWA developed a concise, practical playbook called & Research certification. Students demonstrate their skills to “Identify, Train, Place” for others to conduct their own highway potential employers on eight types of heavy construction equipment. workforce development efforts. In Alabama, FHWA worked with firms and community colleges to FHWA also developed an outreach campaign called “Roads To create a modular highway construction curriculum of basic math, Your Future” to help raise awareness of highway construction as written and interpersonal skills, the OSHA-10 certification, and a career opportunity. The campaign includes free, downloadable other more advanced skills. The course culminates by connecting marketing materials for use by anyone to attract people to the graduates to construction firms for job interviews. industry. Most of the materials can be customized to add local contact information. No Downside to Workforce Development Everyone wins when highway construction jobs are filled. Workers The pilot and playbook were a good start, but an effort as large as find a stable, satisfying career and the nation has the infrastructure construction workforce development needs a bigger boost. FHWA it needs to thrive. This EDC-6 initiative is not only a technical cannot solve this problem alone, but we do have a crucial piece. exercise, but also a societal effort.

The agency has a national network to facilitate collaboration A sustainable career can break cycles of poverty and set families and learning between groups that might never have contact on new paths to success. And these jobs build and maintain one otherwise. There are answers to our workforce shortage out of our national treasures, the highway system.

See all the EDC-6 initiatives at the Center for Karen Bobo is director of the FHWA Center for Transportation Workforce Development and co-leader of the EDC-6 strategic Accelerating Innovation, fhwa.dot.gov/innovation. workforce development implementation team.

July-August 2021 transportationbuilder.org | 35 EYE ON ECONOMICS Contractors Facing Rising Prices in First Half of 2021

By Dr. Alison Premo Black Dr. Josh Hurwitz [email protected] [email protected]

The cost of materials, goods, and services used for highway, Simultaneously, demand for transportation construction street, and bridge construction is up an average 21 percent materials has continued rising to support record construction since spring 2020, led by increases in diesel fuel and energy work in 2020, despite the pandemic. As competing claims on prices. About half the increase has occurred since January. resources grow faster than they can be supplied, input prices tend to rise. Consumers are also generally paying more for goods and services as COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease and the The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics measures average U.S. economic activity picks up. The Consumer Price Index changes in commodity prices through the Producer Price (CPI), which measures general inflation, rose 5 percent Index. The latest data, through May, shows an upward trend between May 2020 and May 2021, the largest year-over-year in the price of materials used for transportation construction, increase since the 2008 Great Recession. including steel, asphalt, concrete, paint, construction equipment, and aggregates. Limited Supply and Rising Demand Inflation occurs when the demand for goods and services Diesel fuel and energy costs have increased nearly 134 outpaces supply. Supply has been constrained by several percent year-over-year in May. developments, including material shortages and supply chains snarled by severe weather, the Suez Canal backup, and At the same time, transportation construction worker wages other factors. are growing. Despite the unemployment rate hovering nearly 70 percent higher than its pre-pandemic low of 3.5 percent,

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36 | transportationbuilder.org July-August 2021 many employers now find it necessary to raise wages to attract workers. The average hourly earnings for highway, street, and bridge construction workers were up 6.2 percent, to $34.20 per hour in May from $32.20 in May 2020. Recent experience shows that the market can adjust to accommodate increased demand, as highway and bridge contractors added nearly 56,000 jobs between 2013 and 2019.

Outlook for Inflation Most economists say these price increases are temporary until the economy adjusts and supply chains recover from pandemic-induced slowdowns. The median projection among Federal Open Market Committee members in June is that aggregate annual price increases, as measured by the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, will return close to the targeted level of 2 percent by 2022. A group of 77 economists surveyed for the July 2021 Wall Street Journal Economic Forecasting Survey projected similar trends for the CPI. Bond market indicators also suggest that financial market participants are anticipating only a temporary surge in price levels.

There is also reason to believe that the surge in many transportation construction input prices will be temporary. For example, the increase in fuel prices was largely precipitated by deliberate oil supply cuts by OPEC+ and drilling reductions domestically in response to the abrupt decline in market activity brought by the pandemic. However, the U.S. Energy Information Administration anticipates falling oil prices in 2022, as supply accelerates faster than demand.

A moderation in prices would be welcome news as Congress continues to work on the passage of a multi-year surface transportation bill to replace the FAST Act, which expires Sept. 30. The legislation currently moving through the House and Senate would dramatically increase federal highway, bridge and public transportation investment—a welcome change after years of status quo investment.

Dr. Alison Premo Black is ARTBA’s chief economist. Dr. Josh Hurwitz is ARTBA’s senior economist.

July-August 2021 transportationbuilder.org | 37 Regulatory Roundup

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Member Engagement is the Key to ARTBA’s Regulatory Advocacy

By Nick Goldstein [email protected]

One of the primary objectives in ARTBA's strategic plan is rigorous advocacy in the regulatory arena. The direct engagement of ARTBA members in these efforts is key to our success.

In the federal rulemaking process, agencies frequently publish proposals and give the public an opportunity to comment. Often they are crafted with little to no input from the industries that will be most impacted, including transportation construction. This is where ARTBA members can be very effective, by sharing their knowledge of how such rules could directly affect their ability to plan and build transportation improvements.

Over the years, there are many examples of ARTBA members achieving a positive outcome for the industry. Here are two from earlier this year:

• ARTBA submitted extensive comments on revisions to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). We formed a work group of 17 members from across ARTBA’s eight divisions to get their insights on the matter. The final comments focused on the impacts of the MUTCD’s prohibition on patented products and drew upon specific examples provided by ARTBA members.

• ARTBA members were also leaders in efforts to convince the Biden administration that an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) emergency temporary standard (ETS) for COVID-19 should not treat all industries alike. Three ARTBA members met directly with Office of Management and Budget personnel to explain how the transportation construction industry is different from other industries, such as assembly-line production or health care. As a result, the final ETS issued by OSHA in June did not contain unnecessary restrictions for our industry and was limited only to healthcare.

The regulatory environment is much different than a year ago. The last administration focused on cutting red tape and reducing delay. It is a new ballgame with increased emphasis on issues like climate change and equity.

In the weeks ahead, watch for digital communications from ARTBA asking about what regulatory issues most impact your business. The more direct input and participation we have from you, the better our results will be.

Nick Goldstein is ARTBA’s vice president of regulatory and legal issues.

CONTACT To become more involved in ARTBA’s regulatory efforts, contact Nick Goldstein at [email protected] or 202.683.1005.

July-August 2021 transportationbuilder.org | 39 Excavation & Trenching Safety

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“This material was produced under the grant SH-99009-SH0 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.” CORNER HOW CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES CAN BEGIN CORNER CAPITALIZINGTHE NEXT STEP ON IN INNOVATIONGEORGIA’S SMART HIGHWAY: ROBO- As technological innovations continue to surface and present conduct business, evolution can occur. At the same time, there new opportunities, some construction companies might not MOWERS needs to be accountability with the implementation. know where they should focus first. Perhaps that is why, generally Along an 18-mile stretch of Interstate Highway 85 between “It’s not good enough to think you’ll just try it and see what speaking, the construction industry lags behind many others on safety. LaGrange, Ga., and the Alabama State Line stands the Ray C. happens,” Schoppman cautions. “It’s important to challenge the technology adoption curve. One of them is the Robotic Mower Project, in which The Ray Anderson Memorial Highway. people to come up with new ideas and approaches. But people However, with the right focus and strategic plan, even will experience and analyze the performance, safety attributes, Unlike most memorial highways, however, this highway, need the right training on how to make the right decisions. Then the smallest of construction companies can leverage some and reliability of robotic mowers on the grassed areas of an nicknamed “The Ray,” has a mission inspired by its namesake, you can hold them accountable.” interstate rest area. combinationAtlanta of today’sfurnishings technologies magnate and to “greenestmake impactful CEO in gains America” in Ray Through this project, The Ray will evaluate the equipment for their businesses.Anderson. Dedicated in 2014, The Ray has been a testbed for Innovationpossible deploymentDoesn’t Have on the to beroadsides Huge and of state Disruptive highways and “Ventureeverything capital innovatorsis already investingcould think nearly of when $1 theybillion thought in of the Ininterstates the quest in to Georgia, continue acting moving as a pilota construction project for other business states technologieswords related “smart tohighway.” project and task management, robotics, forward,nationwide, Schoppman alongside talks Missouri about DOT four and key T strategies:exas DOT. design, building/projectThese technologies information, have included data and right-of-way analytics, solarinventory power 1. Ultimately,Executing the the project same serves way in to the highlight same themarket benefits (this isof and supplyinstallations, chain, financial right-of-way management farming projects, and equipment pollution capturingshare,” investing in and deploying roadside robotic equipment, including: bioswales and pollinator gardens. complacency) says Gregg Schoppman, a principal with FMI Corporation. “You • Reducing fuel costs One of The Ray’s biggest supporters recently, has been the 2. Executing the same way in a new market (likely requires can’t just stick your head in the sand and wait to see which ones will • Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), which recently innovation) still be there a few months from now. Construction leaders have to • Re-nutrienting soil re-partnered with The Ray, via the Ray C. Anderson Foundation 3. Executing a new way in the same market (requires challenge conventions themselves.” AEM recently partnered with the Outdoor Power Equipment and Georgia DOT, in support of the association’s efforts to innovation) Institute (OPEI) to bring together manufacturers meeting the develop and promote a cohesive equipment manufacturing 4. Executing a new way in a new market (requires lots of mower specifications for the project. In May 2021, Allie Kelly, Innovationindustry is the strategy Antidote related to Workforce to sustainability. Challenges executiveinnovation) director of The Ray, discussed the project in greater If leveragedThrough correctly, the work several of its innovations newly established could Sustainability actually attract Fordetail many with construction several manufacturers companies, who the had innovative expressed pursuit interest of in better talentCouncil, to the AEM industry is committed and help to promotingdrive workforce the successes performance: and newthe approaches project. and markets must be preceded by something • Autonomouspositive global equipment impacts of and its members, vehicles including emissions SchoppmanRemoving refers the tooperator as “company from the hygiene.” roadside removes the risk, • Dronesreductions, productivity gains, safety improvements, and Fornot example,only for the Schoppman operator but tellsalso offor a those tilt contractor traveling the he roadway.once • Buildingstandards Information development. Modeling (BIM) In addition, removing the risk not only helps The Ray achieve “Through our continued partnership with The Ray, AEM will be consulted with. After digging into the numbers, concrete • Use of tablets for augmented reality their goal of ‘Zero Deaths,’ but also allows AEM to achieve its able to further deliver on its mission to provide valuable resources snot on doorframes was costing the company several • Real-time data to provide true analytics and decision- goal of promoting the successes of its members and the and opportunities that spark ideas for establishing sustainability thousand dollars a year. After challenging employees making capability industries it serves.” priorities for the equipment manufacturing industry and provide a to come up with an innovative solution, ideas were • Telemetry on wearable devices to improve productivity, AEM and OPEI members have continued to framework that supports best practices for a more viable world,” all over the board. A very simple, yet “innovative” efficiency and safety collaborate with The Ray and discuss their said AEM Director of Construction Sara Feuling. idea was brought to the table: use blue • QR codes on equipment and helmets to retrieve data like participation in the project. According to The Ray, highways are one of the most painter’s tape and Visqueen to cover up engine hours, when oil change is due, whether an employee To learn more about The Ray and the TheThe environmentally damaging and dangerous infrastructure the doorframes. That became standard went through certain safety training, etc. innovations being tested there, visit AssociationAssociation systems in the world, and roadside departures play a significant work and went right into the • RFID tags welded into sections of steel to track material theray.org. ofof Equipment Equipment role in endangering roadside workers, including mowers. From company playbook. from2016 fabricator through 2019, to jobsite more than half of all traffic fatalities resulted Manufacturers is is Innovation, and that kind • Non-traditionalfrom roadway departures. talent development In response, like The online Ray learninghas started and a the NorthNorth America- America- of innovation, puts a virtualmovement reality to build net-zero highways – Zero Deaths. Zero Waste. basedbased international trade trade Zero Carbon. Zero Impact. construction company groupgroup advancing the the off-road off-road on a path toward equipment manufacturing industry OvercomingAttendees a Culture of CONEXPO-CONof Complacency/AGG 2020 may remember The equipment manufacturing industry evolution and in the global marketplace. As industriesRay from evolve, the show’s companies Tech Experience, must evolve where with they them. were The immersed in the global marketplace. in a replica of The Ray’s sustainable highway, including a solar continued biggest obstacle to embracing innovation is complacency. paved highway, Connected Roads® smart striping, and more. prosperity. We Build Momentum As SchoppmanFuture projects points on out, The evolution Ray continue and to innovation transform really infrastructure, come We Build Momentum down to a single word: accountability. When both leadership and highlighting sustainability and, most importantly, To learn more, visit aem.org employees are accountable for finding new, innovative ways to To learn more, visit aem.org

July-August 2021 transportationbuilder.org | 41 2021 ARTBA REGIONAL MEETINGS

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