TRB Pubsindex
Text Size:
x

« Prev Next »

Return to Results | New Search

Bookmark and Share

Title:

Alternative Stream Channel Maintenance at Bridges in Ohio: Outcomes of a Participatory Research Project

Accession Number:

01662762

Record Type:

Component

Abstract:

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) maintains >44,000 bridges statewide. Annually, hundreds of maintenance projects are undertaken by county maintenance crews to mitigate the effects of stream channel scour and sediment aggradation that impacts the structural integrity and conveyance capacity of many bridges. Current maintenance practices have limitations and often provide only temporary resolution to the maintenance issue. As a result, ODOT sought out research to identify alternative maintenance practices that are: 1) more sustainable (i.e. reduce long-term maintenance frequency), 2) environmentally sensitive, 3) economical, and 4) readily implementable by county maintenance crews. Reconnaissance was conducted to identify representative sites with typical maintenance problems to serve as case study examples. Based on literature review and experience of the research team, a range of alternative maintenance practices were identified. Potential solutions were further refined as researchers worked with ODOT staff to inventory equipment available for construction, identify construction materials that could be obtained with reasonable effort, and assess skills sets of ODOT maintenance crews. Proposed maintenance projects were presented to ODOT staff and subsequently revised during multiple iterations of a participatory design process. Flow altering devices (e.g. vanes, w-weirs, etc.) commonly used in the field of stream restoration and “softer” bank stabilization materials were selected for further investigation. The following paper describes typical maintenance problems at bridge crossings, outlines historical maintenance practices in Ohio, provides information on alternative practices implemented through the research effort, and provides details on a pilot project that was implemented by county maintenance crews.

Supplemental Notes:

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AHD10 Standing Committee on Maintenance and Operations Management.

Report/Paper Numbers:

18-05087

Language:

English

Authors:

Witter, Jonathan D
Mecklenburg, Daniel E
Hebert, Miles
Yaryan Hall, Holly
Perlik, Matt
Martindale, Jill
Earley, Adrienne
Johnson, Peggy A

Pagination:

6p

Publication Date:

2018

Conference:

Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting

Location: Washington DC, United States
Date: 2018-1-7 to 2018-1-11
Sponsors: Transportation Research Board

Media Type:

Digital/other

Features:

Figures; Photos

Geographic Terms:

Ohio

Subject Areas:

Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation

Source Data:

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2018 Paper #18-05087

Files:

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Created Date:

Jan 8 2018 11:16AM