ASPIRE Spring 08 - Aspire - The Concrete Bridge Magazine

FHWAFHWA’S“GREEN” INITIATIVESby M. Myint LwinSUSTAINABILITY IS...In the Winter 2008 Edition of ASPIRE, weread many exciting articles about projectsand the application of sustainability concepts inthe planning, design, construction, operation,and preservation of highway bridges. The FHWArealizes the importance of developing andimplementing sustainable solutions throughworking together at the federal, state, and locallevels. Communities, industry, academia, andmany others are in the chain of sustainablesolutions for a sustainable future.In this issue of ASPIRE, we continue to readabout sustainability and learn about ideas andpractices in applying the concepts of “GreenHighways/Bridges” to enhance the natural andbuilt environment.Protecting andPreserving theEnvironmentIn 2006, theFHWA publishedan environmentalg u i d e t i t l e d“Eco-Logical:An EcosystemApproach toDevelopingInfrastructureProjects” to help improve theunderstanding of how infrastructure impactshabitat and ecosystems. This multi-agency initiativedescribes a vision for integrating infrastructuredevelopment and ecosystem conservation processeswith economic, environmental, and social needsand objectives. An ecosystem approach is a methodfor sustaining or restoring ecological systems andtheir functions and values. It is goal driven andis based on a collaboratively developed vision ofdesired future conditions that integrate ecological,economic, and social factors.The FHWA is committed to protecting andpreserving the environment through stewardshipand timely reviews. In recent years, the FHWA andits partners have made substantial contributionsto the environment and to the communities,through planning and programs that supportwetland banking, habitat restoration, historicpreservation, air quality improvements, bicycleand pedestrian facilities, context-sensitivesolutions, wildlife crossings, public and tribalgovernment involvement, and others.The FHWA is working closely with partners totake proactive measures in moving from simplymitigating environmental impacts to activelycontributing to environmental enhancements.Technology Deployment ProgramsThe FHWA’s technology deployment programspromote initiatives with social, economical, andecological benefits, including:• Use of high performance materialsin pavement and bridge construction toincrease durability, minimize maintenance,and reduce cost;• Use of prefabricated systems in pavement andbridge construction to accelerate construction,improve work-zone safety, and reducedisruption to the public. Fabrication of thesystems is done in controlled environmentson or off the jobsite, resulting in improvedquality and less impact on the environment;• Use of self-propelled modular transporters(SPMT) in accelerated bridge constructionfor removal and replacement of heavybridge components in record time; and• Use of span-by-span, balanced cantilever,and incremental launching techniquesin bridge construction to protect theenvironment by minimizing the needs forconstruction equipment or work on theground or wetlands below the bridges.sRecycled Materialsin Highway ConstructionThe FHWA promotes and supports the useof recycled materials in highway construction.Through the Recycled Materials Resource Centerat the University of New Hampshire, the FHWA ismaking changes in the extent of use of severalindustrial by-product materials in highwayconstruction. The FHWA also has an activeRecycling Team that works with the states, theEnvironmental Protection Agency, and industryto implement recycling technology.SAFETEA-LU directs the reuse of debris frombridge demolitions in shore erosion control orstabilization, ecosystem restoration, and marinehabitat creation.FHWA ExemplaryEcosystem InitiativesIn 2002, the FHWA identified ecosystemconservation as one of three performanceobjectives under the Agency’s “Vital Few” goal ofEnvironmental Streamlining and Stewardship.To demonstrate its commitment to this goal,the FHWA agreed to identify a minimum of 30exemplary ecosystem initiatives in at least 20states or Federal Lands Highway Divisions bySeptember 2007.FHWA developed the following specific criteriafor selecting the exemplary ecosystem initiatives:1. An exemplary ecosystem initiative helpssustain or restore natural systems and theirfunctions and values.2. An exemplary ecosystem initiative isdeveloped within a landscape context.3. An exemplary ecosystem initiative usespartnering and collaborative approaches toadvance common goals.4. An exemplary ecosystem initiative uses thebest available science in ecosystem andhabitat conservation.54 | ASPIRE, Spring 2008