CONTRACTOR'S VIEW OF OPTIMIZING MATERIALS AND ENERGY

Changes (which have been necessitated by shortages) in the highway contracting and construction fields are categorized, policies established by general contractors in times of shortages are listed, and 12 suggestions are made for cutting costs in highway construciton. It is recommended that restrictive specifications requiring fixed-form construction be replaced with provisions allowing the option of using slip- form techniques in such areas as the placement, consolidation and finishing of portland cement concrete. The requirements for reinforcing steel could be simplified particularly with respect to median barriers. The increased use of prefabricated bridge components is recommended for standardization of bridge components. It is proposed that precast inlet and manhole standard details be developed and included in contracts as acceptable alternatives, and that efforts be made to use naturally occurring materials as aggregates. Where site conditions permit, alternative designs for pipes should be prepared. Standard contract provisions should permit the elimination of transverse steel in continuously reinforced concrete pavement. It is also recommended that the concept of flare-end section of pipe be implemented in lieu of headwalls. Further recommendations are presented which relate to national standardization of highway elements; the substitution of latex, acrylic and polyester coatings; minimization of geometric complexities in bridges, thick lift bituminous paving, and the use of the dryer drum.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/sr/sr166/sr166-005.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0360859X
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Energy Administration, and the Energy Research and Development Administration.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Cianchette, Ival R
• Conference:
  • Conference on Optimizing the Use of Materials and Energy in Transportation Construction
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1975-11-12 to 1975-11-14
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: pp 29-33
• Monograph Title: OPTIMIZING THE USE OF MATERIALS AND ENERGY IN TRANSPORTATION CONSTRUCTION
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Board Special Report
  • Issue Number: 166
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0360-859X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge design; Bridge members; Bridges; Building materials; Coatings; Conservation; Continuously reinforced concrete pavements; Contractors; Energy; Fuel consumption; Pipe; Portland cement concrete; Reinforcing steel; Road construction; Specifications; Standardization; Structural design
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Energy; Environment; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00149912
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 13 1977 12:00AM