Page 88 - Bridge and Highway Structure Rehabilitation and Repair

CHAPTER 2 DIAGNOSTIC DESIGN AND SELECTIVE RECONSTRUCTION 63

• Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ)
• Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program (HBRR)
• Discretionary programs under the control of FHWA or earmarked directly by Congress,
such as the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Effi cient Transportation Equity Act—A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).

• States can “flex” funds from other federal-aid highway programs to increase spending on
bridges.
• In addition, there is nothing to prevent a state from spending its own funds on bridge
projects beyond the minimum local matching share.
6. The Highway Bridge Program (HBP) is the primary federal program to fund the replace-
ment or rehabilitation of structurally deficient or functionally obsolete bridges. HBP is

also referred to as the Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program (HBRR).
HBRR is the primary source of federal funds for replacement, reconstruction, and capital
maintenance. HBRR funds are apportioned to the states by a formula based on each state’s

relative share of the total cost to repair or replace deficient highway bridges. Plans for the
spending of these funds are under the control of the state DOT’s.
Each state is guaranteed use of ¼ to 10 percent of total program allocations. The federal
share under HBP is 80 percent, except that for Interstate bridges, where the federal share
rises to 90 percent.
These funds are usually not spent on new bridges, but are available for:
• Systematic preventative maintenance
• Rehabilitation to restore structural integrity or to correct major safety defects
• Replacement of low-water crossings, and bridges made obsolete by certain COE projects
and not rebuilt with COE funds
• Painting, seismic retrofitting, anti-scour measures, and deicing applications

• Total replacement of a structurally deficient or functionally obsolete highway bridge with

a new facility constructed in the same general traffi c corridor.
7. A funding application report will address the following issues:
• Geometry, number of lanes, horizontal and vertical underclearance
• Deck condition: Concrete strength, cracking, corrosion detection by half-cell method, de-
laminations, spalls, salt content above and below reinforcement layers, and air content
• Deck drainage, substructure drainage, and drainage disposal
• Safety railings.

2.5.2 The Role of State DOTs
Although the Federal-Aid Highway Program provides federal money to highways and
bridges, the money itself is normally under the control of the states. The state departments of
transportation (DOTs) have to comply with detailed federal planning guidelines on where and
on what the money will be spent. Their functions are:

• To let the contracts
• To oversee the project development and construction process
• To provide for the inspection of bridges.
The options available to each state are:

• Increase funding to perform immediate repairs
• Implement weight restrictions