DOT and Local Roads Issues

Rural roadways and bridges in Alabama (as well as many other states) are in need of repair and rehabilitation. A recent survey of 44 participating counties (out of 67 total counties) by the Alabama County Engineer’s Association (ACEA) identified that total near-term funding of over $400M is needed to replace structurally deficient bridges within the local roads system in Alabama. Because of these needs, we have performed several collaborative projects with county engineers. The objective of the “Local Roads” project was to develop an easy-to-use methodology for assessing, prioritizing, and predicting the condition of local roads bridges and culverts that are less than 20 feet in length. The objective of the “Flowable Fill” project was to develop innovative uses, based on the experience of other states, in the use of flowable fill for the rehabilitation of local roads bridges. In March 2006, several 1-day seminars was presented at ALDOT on culvert management technologies. The Team is now developing innovative, cost effective methods for rehabilitating and repairing metal culverts.

The primary objective of NCHRP Project 17-10(2), “Structural Supports for Highway Signs, Luminaires, and Traffic Signals,” was to enhance the Standard Specifications for Structural Supports for Highway Signs, Luminaires, and Traffic Signals proposed under NCHRP 17-10(1), which UAB-CEE also performed. This was followed by a project sponsored by ALDOT to develop simple-to-use design worksheets that could be used to check sign support designs.

Students: Tom Grimes (MSCE August 2001), Trey Gauntt (MSCE June 2001), Robert Warr (MSCE August 2002), Ernie Barton (MSCE December 2001), Ramy Abdalla

Publications, Presentations, and Reports:

“Local Roads Research Activities at UAB” presented at the County Engineers Meeting, Prattville Alabama, October 12th 2005.

“Innovative Technologies for Rehabilitating Local Roads Bridges and Culverts,” Thomas C. Grimes, Trey Gauntt, and James S. Davidson, The NACE 2004 Annual Management and Technical Conference, Orlando, FL April 4 – 8, 2004.

Davidson JS, Fouad FH, Abdalla RS, Calvert B, Barton E, and Warr RA, “Computer-Based Sign, Luminaires, and Traffic Signal Support Design Tools for State and County Engineers,” report published by the University Transportation Center for Alabama (UTCA), UTCA Report 00467, April 2004.

“Innovative Technologies for Rehabilitating Local Roads Bridges and Culverts,” Thomas C. Grimes, Trey Gauntt, and James S. Davidson, Eighth Southeastern Local Roads Conference, Asheville, North Carolina, Sponsored by The North Carolina Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP), LTAP Centers, and the Federal Highway Administration, October 12 – 14, 2003.

“Innovative Technologies for Rehabilitating Local Roads Bridges and Culverts,” Thomas C. Grimes, Trey Gauntt, and James S. Davidson, at the First Annual UTCA Transportation Research Symposium, Birmingham, Alabama, Sponsored by The University Transportation Center for Alabama, November 17, 2003.

"Local Roads Bridge Replacement Alternatives," Tom Grimes, Trey Gauntt, James Davidson, presented at the 2001 Alabama Concrete Technologies and Engineering Conference, October 23, 2001.

"Innovative Use of Flowable Fill in Local Roads Bridge Rehabilitation," Brian Copham, Trey Gauntt, Tom Grimes, Jim Davidson, presented at the 2001 Alabama Concrete Technologies and Engineering Conference, October 23, 2001.

"Local Roads Bridge Management Prioritization Database (BRPD)," Tom Grimes and Jim Davidson at the Southeastern Local Roads Conference, May 16, 2000, Point Clear Alabama.

"Innovative Use of Flowable Fill for LRB Replacement," by James S. Davidson, Brian Copham, Thomas C. Grimes, and Fred M. Gauntt; report published by the University Transportation Center for Alabama (UTCA), UTCA Report 01218, April 2002.

"Local Roads Bridge Replacement Prioritization Database (BRPD) Program," by James S. Davidson, Thomas C. Grimes, and Fred M. Gauntt; Prepared for the University Transportation Center for Alabama (UTCA), UTCA Report 00219, June 30, 2001.

"Local Roads Bridge Replacement Prioritization Database (BRPD) Program," Thesis prepared by Thomas C. Grimes as part of the MSCE requirements at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, August 2001.

Sponsored Projects:

Co-Principal Investigator, “Plastic Pipe for Highway Construction,” sponsored by the Alabama Department of Transportation, January 2008 through December 2009, Co-PI with Frazier Parker.

Principal Investigator, “PVA Fiber Reinforced Shotcrete for Rehabilitation and Preventative Maintenance of Aging Culverts,” sponsored by the Alabama Department of Transportation, 2006.

Principal Investigator, “Culvert Management System Implementation and Seminar,” sponsored by the Department of Transportation through the University Transportation Center for Alabama (UTCA), June 1, 2005 through May 31, 2006.

Principal Investigator, “Innovative use of Flowable Fill for LRB Rehabilitation,” sponsored by the University Transportation Center of Alabama (UTCA), January 1, 2001 through December 30, 2001.

Principal Investigator, “Local Roads Bridge Prioritization Database Program,” sponsored by the University Transportation Center of Alabama (UTCA), February 1, 2000 through January 30, 2001.

Principal Investigator, “Computer-based Sign, Luminaires, and Traffic Signal Support Design Tools for State and County Engineers,” sponsored by the Alabama Department of Transportation, September 2000, 1 ½ year.

Investigator, “NCHRP Project 17-10(2), Structural Supports for Highway Signs, Luminaires, and Traffic Signals,” supported by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, P.I. - Fouad H. Fouad, March 1999 through February 2001.