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INFRASTRUCTURE 

TFHRC’s Office of Infrastructure Publishes Report Examining Bridge Foundation Reuse

The Office of Infrastructure Research and Development at the Federal Highway Administration’s 

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center published Foundation Reuse for Highway Bridges, a 

report that examines the reuse of bridge foundations for bridge reconstruction projects.(1) The 

report addresses critical issues encountered during the decisionmaking process, including the 

assessment of existing bridge foundations for structural/geotechnical integrity, durability, and load 

carrying capacity, as well as the strengthening and design of bridge foundations for future reuse. The 

report includes numerous case examples on the reuse of bridge foundations to highlight significant 

benefits of foundation reuse from social, environmental, and economic perspectives. 

The reuse of existing bridge foundations during reconstruction or major rehabilitation can result in 

significant savings in costs and accelerated project delivery, as was the case with the Milton Madison 

Bridge project. The reuse and rehabilitation of the bridge, which connects Milton, KY, and Madison, 

IN, saved an estimated $50 million.(2) The bridge is a preassembled steel truss superstructure (placed 

on temporary piers) that was moved laterally 55 feet on refurbished piers. Four different options are 

available when replacing an existing bridge foundation. Option 1 involves the construction of a new 

foundation on a new alignment while avoiding the existing foundation. Construction of the new 

elements does not interfere with the existing foundation or impact user mobility (although there 

may be mobility impacts while switching to the new alignment). Option 2 maintains the existing 

alignment on new substructure elements. Option 3 reuses the existing foundation as is, with or 

without minor repairs. Option 4 reuses foundations with some form of retrofitting or strengthening. 

Options 3 and 4 both illustrate the case of foundation reuse.

Source: FHWA 

Option 1: Install new foundation on new 

alignment. 

1 Agrawal, A.K., Jalinoos, F., Davis, N., Hoomaan, E., and Sanayei, M. (2018). Foundation Reuse for Highway Bridges, Report 

No. FHWA-HIF-18-055, FHWA, McLean, VA.

2

 Jalinoos, F. (2015) “Reusing Bridge Foundations,” Public Roads, 79 (3), FHWA, McLean, VA. 

January/February 2019 

A news update of research, technology, and development from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), 

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) 

Source: FHWA 

Option 2: Install new foundation on the 

existing alignment. 

FHWA R&T Now

A news update of research, technology, and development from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), 

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). 

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Source: FHWA 

Option 3: Reevaluation and reuse of existing 

foundation. 

Source: FHWA 

Option 4: Reuse existing foundation by 

strengthening it. 

For more information, contact Frank Jalinoos, 

202–493–3082, frank.jalinoos@dot.gov. 

Data Collection Using Newly Acquired 

Assessment Tool Underway 

The Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) 

Program is deploying newly acquired 

commercial versions of the RABITTM (Robotic 

Assisted Bridge Inspection Tool). This system 

was developed to collect high-quality data using 

multiple nondestructive evaluation (NDE) 

technologies mounted on a single platform to 

assess the condition of bridge decks. 

Source: FHWA 

RABITTM being deployed from the systems 

operations center. The center is used to store 

and transport the equipment. 

The RABITTM includes several NDE technologies 

for assessing untreated (bare) concrete decks. 

These technologies include ground penetrating 

radar (used to assess the condition of underlying 

concrete and to map the location and cover of 

the top-most reinforcement embedded in the 

concrete deck); impact echo (acoustic wave 

method used to detect the presence and extent 

of subsurface deck delaminations); ultrasonic 

surface waves (acoustic wave technology used 

to assess the quality of concrete through 

determination of the in situ concrete modulus); 

and electrical resistivity of the concrete deck 

(used to assess the potential corrosive 

environment). The RABITTM also has two highresolution cameras mounted on the chassis to 

capture images of the deck. The images are 

stitched together into one large composite 

image of the deck to provide documentation of 

the deck’s surface condition.

With the implementation of this new tool, the 

LTBP Program is gearing up for another round of 

data collection in the Gulf and Northwest States. 

The initial round of data collection on 24 bridges 

in the Gulf States and 24 bridges in the 

Northwest States was performed in 2015, which 

included extensive visual inspections and deck 

material sampling (cores were removed and 

tested for chloride penetration and compressive 

strength). These bridges will be assessed with 

the RABITTM during the 2018–2019 timeframe to 

collect high-quality data using the NDE 

technologies described in the previous 

paragraph to quantify the condition of the 

reinforced concrete bridge decks. 

For more information, contact Robert Zobel, 

202–493–3024, robert.zobel@dot.gov.

J. Sterling Jones Hydraulics Laboratory 

Showcases the In Situ Scour Testing Device at 

Fed Tech Pitch Day 

Shana Baker, Director of the Office of Corporate 

Research, Technology, and Innovation 

Management (HRTM), and Mary Huie, HRTM 

Program Coordinator, attended the Fed Tech 

Startup Studio Pitch Day on November 27, 2018. 

The Fed Tech Program helps Federal 

laboratories identify inventions and pairs the 

laboratories with entrepreneurs, graduate 

students, and industry experts to examine 

potential opportunities to further the 

development of the invention. 

US. Department 

of Transportation 

Federal Highway 

Administration 

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· Improvement 
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The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) 

sponsored Turner-Fairbank Highway Research 

Center’s (TFHRC) J. Sterling Jones Hydraulics 

Research Laboratory’s In Situ Scour Testing 

Device (ISTD) as one of the inventions. The ISTD 

is a field testing device used to determine the 

scour-depth potential of soils that support 

structural foundations built in flowing water. 

The device measures the scour potential in situ 

using a columnar containment vessel driven into 

the soil.

Entrepreneurs associated with the Fed Tech 

program have interviewed potential users of the 

ISTD and believe that it has the capacity to be 

used broadly within the transportation industry 

and its data would be valuable to many 

stakeholders. 

Pitch Day is an event for early-stage venture 

teams to demonstrate and present ideas built 

around the innovations from Federal 

labs. Twenty teams of entrepreneurs and 

inventors representing emerging technologies 

from the country's premier labs attended the 

event, including the Air Force Research 

Laboratory, Army Research Laboratory, TFHRC’s 

J. Sterling Jones Hydraulics Laboratory, 

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 

National Institute of Standards and Technology, 

Princeton University, and the Space and Naval 

Warfare Systems Command. 

For more information, contact Mary Huie, 

202–493–3460, mary.huie@dot.gov.

SAFETY 

Crash Test Examines the Use of Experimental 

Roadway Barriers 

A full-scale crash test was conducted at TurnerFairbank Highway Research Center’s Federal 

Outdoor Impact Laboratory (FOIL) at the Office 

of Safety Research and Development on 

December 13, 2018. During the test, a small 

passenger vehicle weighing 1,100 kg (2,425 lbs) 

traveled at 100 km/h (62 mph) crashed into a 

series of experimental polymer concrete 

segments at a 25-degree impact angle. Each 

segment of the experimental barrier weighs 454 

kg (1,000 lbs). The barriers are lighter and 

stronger than concrete and easier to transport 

on the back of a flatbed truck. They are also 

faster to produce. A polymer barrier can cure in 

2 hours; a concrete barrier needs at least 28 

days to cure. 

Source: FHWA 

A closeup view of one of the experimental 

polymer concrete segments. 

The test will be used to evaluate the benefits of 

using materials other than cement, such as 

polymer concrete, to construct roadside 

barriers. 

Models suggested that the barrier would move 

approximately 1.5 feet during the collision. The 

experiment, however, showed that the barrier 

moved 2.5 feet due to some unexpected cracks, 

which the research team will analyze and 

improve upon over the next month. The 

difference of a foot has safety implications for 

the placement of barriers on highways that 

serve to protect other vehicles, drivers and 

passengers, and road workers. 

US. Department 

of Transportation 

Federal Highway 

Administration 

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Source: FHWA 

A man walks in front of a portion of the barrier 

that was moved by the test vehicle during the 

crash test at the FOIL. 

Once the new analysis is complete, the team 

plans on conducting at least two more full-scale 

crash tests, another with a similar small car, and 

one with a large pick-up truck. 

Source: FHWA 

The test vehicle after the crash test. 

For more information, contact Eduardo Arispe, 

202–493–3291, eduardo.arispe@dot.gov. 

TFHRC’s Federal Outdoor Impact Laboratory 

Featured in the 2019 FLC Planner 

The Federal Laboratory Consortium for 

Technology Transfer (FLC) publishes a yearly 

planner that features many of the Federal 

research laboratories throughout the Nation. 

January 2019 kicked off the year by featuring 

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center’s 

Federal Outdoor Impact Laboratory (FOIL). 

The FOIL is an ISO 17025-accredited crash test 

facility used to support the Federal Highway 

Administration's Safety Research and 

Development programs and other Federal 

security initiatives with research related to 

roadside hardware and roadway departure 

issues. Researchers use this facility to extend 

their understanding of crash events and 

dynamic loading that occur during impacts. This 

is accomplished by staging controlled, highspeed motor vehicle and pendulum collisions 

into roadside hardware and components. Other 

activities at the FOIL include the application of 

advanced digital simulation tools, such as Finite 

Element Analysis, to the design and testing of 

roadside safety systems. 

The FLC is the formally chartered, nationwide 

network of over 300 Federal laboratories, 

agencies, and research centers. The FLC fosters 

commercialization of best practice strategies 

and opportunities for accelerating Federal 

technologies out of the laboratory and into the 

marketplace. 

For more information, contact Mary Huie, 

202–493–3460, mary.huie@dot.gov. 

Submit Your Safety Success Stories to Safety 

Compass 

FHWA’s Office of Safety seeks submissions for 

its spring 2019 issue of Safety Compass. This 

newsletter is an ideal way to highlight your road 

safety-related activities and programs. 

New FHWA safety-focused products, resources, 

and publications; guidance, policy, and 

rulemaking notices; and innovative safetyfocused products from our partners and 

stakeholders are all great things to 

communicate in Safety Compass. 

Submit articles and related graphics to Tara 

McLoughlin by March 15, 2019. 

US. Department 

of Transportation 

Federal Highway 

Administration 

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OPERATIONS 

Mohammed Yousuf Recognized for Work in 

Accessible Transportation 

Congratulations to Mohammed Yousuf, Program 

Manager for the Accessible Transportation 

Technology Research Initiative (ATTRI) and 

Transportation Specialist at Federal Highway 

Administration’s Turner-Fairbank Highway 

Research Center (TFHRC), who was recognized 

by The Viscardi Center as one of ten recipients 

of the 2018 Henry Viscardi Achievement 

Awards. The awards honor leaders in the global 

disability community who are reshaping societal 

perceptions and making significant changes in 

the quality of life of people with disabilities. 

The ceremony was held in New York City on 

December 4, 2018. The Viscardi Center 

recognized 10 global leaders with disabilities.

Mohammed has dedicated his work to bringing 

emerging accessible transportation technologies 

to widespread use. He has focused his research 

on developing technologies that include 

accessible transportation systems, automated 

vehicles, and robotics, among others. 

ATTRI is a joint initiative with the United States 

Department of Transportation, co-led by the 

Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit 

Administration, and Intelligent Transportation 

Systems Joint Program Office, with support from 

the National Institute on Disability, Independent 

Living, and Rehabilitation Research, and other 

Federal partners. The ATTRI Program is leading 

efforts to develop and implement 

transformative applications to improve mobility 

options for all travelers, particularly those with 

disabilities. ATTRI research focuses on removing 

barriers to transportation for people with visual, 

hearing, cognitive, and mobility disabilities. 

© The Viscardi Center. Used with permission.

Mohammed Yousuf, center, receives his award 

from John D. Kemp, left, President and CEO of 

The Viscardi Center, and Russ Cusick, right, 

Chair of The Viscardi Center’s Board of 

Directors. 

For more information, contact Mohammed 

Yousuf, 202–493–3199, 

mohammed.yousuf@dot.gov.

2018 RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS 

Infrastructure 

Performance of Grouted Connections for 

Prefabricated Bridge Deck Elements 

Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) 

Program Specific Pavement Studies (SPS) - 

Development of Experiment Design: SPS-11 

Asphalt Concrete Pavement Preservation Study 

Foundation Reuse for Highway Bridges

Automation in Highway Construction 

LTPP Newsletter - November 2018 

Using Data Analytics for Cost-Effective 

Prediction of Road Conditions: Case of The 

Pavement Condition Index 

Analysis Procedures for Evaluating Superheavy 

Load Movement on Flexible Pavements, 

Volume I: Final Report

Analysis Procedures for Evaluating Superheavy 

Load Movement on Flexible Pavements, 

Volume II: Appendix A, Experimental Program

Analysis Procedures for Evaluating Superheavy 

Load Movement on Flexible Pavements, 

Volume IV: Appendix C, Material 

Characterization for Superheavy Load 

Movement Analysis

Impact of Initial Density on StrengthDeformation Characteristics of Open-Graded 

US. Department Aggregates

of Transportation 

Federal Highway 

Administration 

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Characterizing Existing Asphalt Concrete Layer 

Damage for Mechanistic Pavement 

Rehabilitation Design

Properties and Behavior of UHPC-Class 

Materials 

Investigation of Increase in Roughness Due to 

Environmental Factors in Flexible Pavements 

Using Profile Data from Long-Term Pavement 

Performance Specific Pavement Studies 1 

Experiment

Using Multi-Objective Optimization to Enhance 

Calibration of Performance Models in the 

Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide 

Long-Term Pavement Performance Climate Tool 

User Guide

Design and Construction Guidelines for 

Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Abutments and 

Integrated Bridge Systems

A Comparative Laboratory Study of Metallic 

Reinforcing Steels for Corrosion Protection of 

Reinforced Concrete Bridge Structures

Laboratory Evaluation of Corrosion Resistance of 

Various Metallic Dowel Bars

Dynamic Properties of Stay Cables on the Bill 

Emerson Bridge

Validation of Pavement Performance Measures 

Using LTPP Data: Final Report

Corrosion Forecasting and Failure Projection of 

Post-Tensioned Tendons in Deficient 

Cementitious Grout

Validation of Pavement Performance Measures 

Using Long-Term Pavement Performance Data

The Asphalt Binder Oxidative Aging ChemoMechanical Model

Field Analysis of Asphalt Binders for Recycled 

Engine Oil Bottoms (REOB) Using Handheld XRF 

Spectrometers

Alternative Contracting Method Performance in 

U.S. Highway Construction

Ultra-High Performance Concrete for Bridge 

Deck Overlays

Asphalt Pavement - Micro-Sampling and MicroExtraction Methods

Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil-Integrated Bridge 

System Evaluation, Final Report

Guidelines for Informing Decisionmaking to 

Affect Pavement Performance Measures: Final 

Report

Cable-Stay Strand Residual Strength Related to 

Security Threats

Fatigue Performance of High-Frequency Welded 

Steel I-Beams

Adjacent Box Beam Connections: Performance 

and Optimization 

Fly Ash AEA Adsorption Capacity Estimation as 

Measured by Fluorescence or Foam Index

Operations 

Mitigating Oversaturation with Cooperative 

Automated Driving Systems

Transportation Operations Research and 

Development Newsletter - Winter 2014–2015 

Update

Research Projects and Benefits

Eco-Approach and Departure at Signalized 

Intersections

FHWA Research and Technology Evaluation: 

Precast Concrete Pavement

Automation in Highway Construction Part II: 

Design Guidance and Guide Specification 

Manual

Feasibility of Mapping and Marking 

Underground Utilities by State Transportation 

Departments

Eco-Drive Experiment on Rolling Terrain for Fuel 

Consumption Optimization

Narrowing Freeway Lanes and Shoulders to 

Create Additional Travel Lanes

Analysis, Modeling, and Simulation (AMS) 

Framework for Connected and Automated 

Vehicle (CAV) Applications - Update

Hardware in The Loop Testing of Connected and 

Automated Vehicle Applications: An Update

Transportation System Simulation Manual 

(TSSM)

Alternative Freeway Designs at Merge and 

Diverge Segments

Intelligent Situation Awareness Navigation Aid 

Safety 

Speed-Safety Analyses Using Linked National 

Performance Management Research Data Set 

(NPMRDS) and SHRP2 Roadway Information 

Database (RID) Data

Human Factors Guidelines for Transportation 

Management Centers

Safety Evaluation of Protected Left-Turn Phasing 

and Leading Pedestrian Intervals on Pedestrian 

Safety

Safety Evaluation of Protected Left-Turn Phasing 

on Pedestrian Safety

SHRP2 Traffic Incident Management Responder 

Training Program Final Report 

Safety Evaluation of Leading Pedestrian Intervals 

on Pedestrian Safety

Identifying Infrastructure-Based MotorcycleCrash Countermeasures: Phase I Final 

US. Department Workshop Finding Report

of Transportation 

Federal Highway 

Administration 

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Infrastructure Initiatives to Apply Connectedand Automated-Vehicle Technology to 

Roadway Departures

Driver Acceptance of Connected, AutomationAssisted Cruise Control-Experiment 1

Understanding the Causative, Precipitating, and 

Predisposing Factors in Rural Two-Lane Crashes

Safety Evaluation of Multiple Strategies at 

Signalized Intersections

Safety Evaluation of Horizontal Curve 

Realignment on Rural, Two-Lane Roads

Enhancing Safety and Operations at Complex 

Interchanges with Improved Signing, Markings, 

and Integrated Geometry

Safety Evaluation of Profiled Thermoplastic 

Pavement Markings

Safety Evaluation of Turning Movement 

Restrictions at Stop-Controlled Intersections

State of the Practice for Traveler Information 

During Nonrecurring Events

Safety Evaluation of Corner Clearance at 

Signalized Intersections

Safety Evaluation of Profiled Thermoplastic 

Pavement Markings

Guidebook on Identification of High Pedestrian 

Crash Locations

Tuning the Federal Highway Administration's 

Driving Simulator Motion Base

Safety Evaluation of Corner Clearance at 

Signalized Intersections

Identification of High Pedestrian Crash Locations

Safety Evaluation of Access Management 

Policies and Techniques

Identification of High Pedestrian Crash Locations 

State of the Practice for Traveler Information 

During Nonrecurring Events

Safety Evaluation of Multiple Strategies at StopControlled Intersections

Safety Evaluation of Signalized Restricted 

Crossing U-Turn Intersections

Safety Evaluation of Edge-Line Rumble Stripes 

on Rural Two-Lane Horizontal Curves

Safety Evaluation of Multiple Strategies at StopControlled Intersections

Safety Evaluation of Turning Movement 

Restrictions at Stop-Controlled Intersections

Self-Enforcing Roadways: A Guidance Report

Safety Evaluation of Cable Median Barriers in 

Combination with Rumble Strips on Divided 

Roads

Safety Evaluation of Restricted Crossing U-Turn 

Intersection

Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control Human 

Factors Study

EAR 

Novel Development of a Bio-Based Binder for 

Sustainable Construction

Knowledge Discovery in Massive Transportation 

Datasets-Merging Information from Disparate 

Sources to Enhance Traffic Safety

Structural Carbon Nanotube-Based Composites: 

Developing Composite Technology to 

Rehabilitate Aging Bridges

Virtual Nondestructive Evaluation Laboratory for 

Highway Structures

Proposed Performance-Prediction Equations 

and Threshold Triggers for Thin-Overlay 

Treatments Using the Long-Term Pavement 

Performance Database

Alternative Cementitious Materials in 

Transportation - Sustainable, Durable 

Substitutes for Portland Cement

Back-Casting Breakthrough Research in the 

Transportation Sector

Smart Vehicles, Smart Signals, Smart Cities

Development of a Behavioral-Based National 

Freight Demand Model and an Innovative 

Freight Data Collection Method

FHWA White Paper on Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Analysis, Modeling, and Simulation (AMS) Tools 

for Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) 

Applications

Simulator Assessment of Contraflow Lanes at 

Signalized Intersections

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Driver 

Model Platform - Version 0.6

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Work 

Zone Driver Model - Version 1.1

Eco-Drive Experiment on Rolling Terrain for Fuel 

Consumption Optimization

General 

FHWA Research and Technology Evaluation: 

Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation

Federal Highway Administration Research 

Library - Helping to Expand Your Research 

Capabilities

Public Roads Magazine – Winter 2019

Public Roads Magazine – Spring 2018

Public Roads Magazine – Summer 2018

Public Roads Magazine – Autumn 2018

SP&R Guide for Implementing 23 CFR Part 420, 

Subpart B

FHWA R&T Now – January/February 2018

FHWA R&T Now – March/April 2018

FHWA R&T Now – May/June 2018

FHWA R&T Now – July/August 2018 

FHWA R&T Now – September/October 2018 

FHWA R&T Now – November/December 2018
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FHWA Research and Technology Evaluation: 

Managing Risk in Rapid Renewal Projects

Federal Highway Administration Research and 

Technology Evaluation Final Report: Adaptive 

Signal Control

FHWA Research and Technology Evaluation: 

Roundabout Research Final Report

Federal Highway Administration Research and 

Technology Evaluation Final Report: Eco-Logical

FHWA Research and Technology Evaluation: 

Public-Private Partnership Capacity Building 

Program

FHWA Research and Technology Evaluation 

Program [Updated February 2018]

FHWA Research and Technology Evaluation 

Program Summary Report Fiscal Year 2016

Preservation of The Reid Family Cemetery

FHWA Research and Technology Evaluation 

Program 

RECENT PERIODICALS 

Innovator 

January/February 2019 

The issue includes the following articles: Ready 

for Round Five; Weather-Responsive 

Management Strategies; Modernizing Signal 

Management; Mobile Solution for Assessment 

and Reporting; States Innovate!; Explore 

Innovation at Transportation Research Board 

Annual Meeting 

The issue is available online. 

LINKS 

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center: 

https://highways.dot.gov/research/ 

Resource Center: 

www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/ 

National Highway Institute: 

www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/home.aspx 

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think might find it interesting and/or useful. 

Suggestions may be submitted to: 

FHWA_Now@fhwa.dot.gov.