Better Bridges and Tunnels Improving transportation for a strong America. That’s the vision of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). In support of this vision, FHWA’s Office of Bridge Technology is dedicated to working together with our many partners within FHWA and in State, local, and tribal governments; industry; academia; and others to provide the Nation with safe, secure, reliable, and efficient highway bridges and tunnels. With about 600,000 bridges and 600 tunnels across the country, it is vitally important for us to protect, maintain, and preserve these structures.
Also showing promise is ultrasonic impact treatment (UIT) of welds. UIT helps prevent fatigue cracking in welds and welded members of existing and new bridges and structures (see July 2003 Focus). Eliminating the fatigue cracking increases the service life and reduces the overall lifetime maintenance cost.
