Nebraska LTAP
Date of this Version
11-2024
Document Type
Article
Citation
Baruta, P., Maguire, M., Saldana, E., Pozo-Lora, F. F., (2024)., Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) Decision Tool , NDOT Research Report SPR-FY22(009).
Abstract
This report investigates the creation and assessment of a decision-making tool developed to aid the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) in determining the suitability of the Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) method for bridge replacement projects. The tool utilizes the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to integrate different criteria, including Average Daily Traffic (ADT), Average Daily Truck Traffic (ADTT), detour time, railroad impact, economy of scale, and the use of typical details, which were found to be paramount in the decision-making process across the state. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the tool’s performance and identify the most significant factors influencing the implementation of ABC for average Nebraska bridges. After testing the tool on a dataset of 123 local bridges needing replacement, it identified 10 confirmed candidates for ABC, 38 requiring further evaluation, and 75 more suitable for traditional construction methods. Additionally, the developed tool was compared with two existing decision-making tools from other states, showing similar results in 80% of the bridge replacement cases.