[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 15, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42213-42214]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-20137]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration


Alternate Designs for Bridges

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of policy statement.

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SUMMARY: This notice provides a revised statement of FHWA policy on the 
development of alternate designs for major bridges to be constructed 
with Federal-aid highway funds. State highway agencies (SHAs) have 
experienced success in following the existing policy statement and are 
now in a better position to determine which bridge type will be most 
economical in 

[[Page 42214]]
the face of ever-shrinking bridge funds. This notice changes prior FHWA 
policy to the extent that it gives SHAs the option to choose whether it 
is in their best interest to require alternate bridge designs.

DATES: This policy is effective on August 15, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Benjamin M. Tang, Review and 
Design Branch, Bridge Division, (202) 366-4592, or Mr. Wilbert Baccus, 
Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-0780, Federal Highway 
Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20590. Office 
hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. e.t., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On December 4, 1979, the FHWA issued a Technical Advisory (TA) 
entitled ``Alternate Bridge Designs.'' This TA was intended to 
simultaneously stimulate competition in the design of safe and 
economical bridge structures and, through the competitive bidding 
process, take advantage of the prevailing economic conditions which 
would provide a finished structure at the lowest possible cost without 
sacrificing safety, quality, or aesthetics.
    A memorandum was issued to all Regional Federal Highway 
Administrators on April 22, 1981, to strengthen the FHWA's effort to 
promote the use of alternate bridge designs among all State and local 
governments. On September 23, 1981, a second memorandum requested each 
division office to review and revise its administrative procedures to 
ensure that alternate bridge designs would be incorporated in all major 
bridge projects. Guidelines were presented in a third memorandum, dated 
June 16, 1982, so that FHWA field offices could take appropriate 
measures to assure themselves that the spirit and intent of the 
alternate bridge design requirements were being followed. On May 12, 
1983, the FHWA published a Notice of Policy Statement [48 FR 21409], 
which replaced the existing TA with a consolidated, formal FHWA policy 
on alternate bridge designs.
    On June 9, 1988, the FHWA published a Notice of Policy Statement 
[53 FR 21637] which revised the FHWA policy to include modifications 
based on an analysis of data considered over an 8-year period 
concerning alternate designs. The in-depth review of the results of the 
FHWA policy over that 8-year period concluded that the policy resulted 
in more cost-effective designs and better use of the highway tax 
dollar.

Discussion

    In the late 1970's, when the cost of bridge construction was very 
unpredictable, the FHWA established a policy requiring the development 
of alternate bridge designs for the construction of major bridges using 
Federal-aid highway funds. The FHWA policy was established in an effort 
to get the best possible value out of an unstable market by requiring 
alternate designs for bridges to be considered. The analysis of cost 
data from 1979 through 1987 indicated that the alternate bridge design 
policy resulted in an average savings of $2 million for each major 
bridge project. Structures were successfully completed at the lowest 
possible cost without sacrificing safety, quality, or aesthetics. The 
program was effective in promoting not only competition among the 
various bridge types and materials but also innovative design concepts 
and construction methods in an unsettled economic atmosphere. As a 
result of its effectiveness, the FHWA reissued the policy of Alternate 
Designs for Bridges on June 9, 1988 [53 FR 21637], making only slight 
modifications to the policy then in existence.
    The various SHAs which have implemented the policy of Alternate 
Designs for Bridges have, for the most part, experienced a great deal 
of success with the program in stretching their bridge dollars. Through 
participation in the alternate design program, the SHAs are now in a 
better position to judge whether alternate designs are needed. As of 
the date of this notice, the new policy will make the use of alternate 
bridge designs optional. Alternate designs may be used by the SHAs at 
their discretion.

(23 U.S.C. 109, 144, 151, 315, and 319; 23 CFR 1.32; 49 CFR 1.48)

    Issued on: August 8, 1995.
Rodney E. Slater,
Federal Highway Administrator.
[FR Doc. 95-20137 Filed 8-14-95; 8:45 am]
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