Tradeoffs in transportation repair and rehabilitation decision-making: case study of the delaware I-495 bridge repair
Date
2021
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Over time, infrastructure elements such as roads, highways, bridges, and even transit stations degrade, surpass their designed life expectancy, and require repair or rehabilitation to maintain functionality and deliver the utmost or acceptable levels of performance, particularly safety and efficiency. Deteriorating infrastructure creates an increase in construction and although construction creates various traffic impacts, it is necessary to return the deteriorating infrastructure to functional operation. This can mean enhancing a given highway to meet (or exceed) the daily or annual traffic demand or completing a project in a condensed amount of time due to the negative impact on users. This exploratory case study analyzes the multi-modal and multi-attribute tradeoffs in the case of the 2014 repair of the I-495 bridge across the Christina River in Wilmington following its emergency closure. The case study examines user shifts in travel patterns, agency plans to minimize disruption, and innovative construction methods to accelerate the restoration of the bridge to service. From the data presented in this case study, it was determined that the I-495 bridge closure increased volume and congestion on nearby roadways which resulted in temporary construction measures to be put into place. The project closure duration of just 59 days also created an increase in both bus and rail ridership. Overall, the I-495 emergency bridge closure was rare and unique project and is being used as a reference for decisions of future construction projects in the state.
Description
Keywords
Decision-making, I-495 emergency bridge closure, Rehabilitation, Repair, Tradeoffs, Transportation