Section 3: Coordination Responsibilities of the Bridge Design Section
Anchor: #i1000141Overview
All responsibilities of the Bridge Design Section are actually coordinative because another entity is always involved. However, defined coordinative responsibilities are those functions that are not considered a part of the fundamental duties of the Bridge Design Section but that are important and are carried on daily.
Anchor: #i1000151Overweight/Oversize Permits
There are increasing requests for permits to move overweight/oversize loads over state highways. When requested by the permitting agency, the Bridge Construction Section, with occasional assistance from the Bridge Design Section or a consultant, makes an assessment of the effects of these vehicles on the bridges along the proposed route. The Bridge Construction Section will approve or disapprove accordingly.
Anchor: #i1000161Structures Research Management Committee (RMC 5)
TxDOT carries on a very extensive research program, primarily through the Highway Planning and Research Program. In the area of Structures and Hydraulics, the Bridge Design Section and some districts provide technical support for the various projects. Over many years, this program has generated a significant library of reports on various aspects of structural and hydraulic design. Many of the findings have been incorporated in the design specifications or procedures.
Anchor: #i1000171Preliminary Consultation Regarding Structure Type
Preliminary consultation regarding structure type is a very important duty, especially when bridge plans are to be prepared by the districts or the consulting engineers. Once the PS&E are submitted it is usually too late to change systems or major details.
NOTE: For major bridges, especially, interaction with the Bridge Design Section is desirable during the preparation of preliminary layouts.
Anchor: #i1000186Consultation During Plan Preparation by Others
Consultation during plan preparation by others, especially a consulting engineer, can alleviate misunderstandings and avert delays.
NOTE: No matter how busy the workload, the Bridge Design Section will try to make someone available for consultation in a timely manner.
Anchor: #i1000201Scheduling Plan Work
Scheduling plan work is usually a negotiation process with the district. The Bridge Design Section will consider workload and available personnel, allowing the details to be completed to meet a realistic target date. Chapter 5 of the TxDOT Bridge Project Development Manual contains suggested lead times for submitting bridge layouts.
Anchor: #i1000216Oversight
The determination of federal or state oversight for highway projects is discussed in Chapter 3 of the TxDOT Bridge Project Development Manual. When the state has oversight responsibilities, the Bridge Design Section will exercise oversight of all aspects of bridge structural design.
Anchor: #i1000231Interaction with Outside Agencies
Outside agencies are often involved in various aspects of bridge planning and design. Chapter 3, Section 3 of the TxDOT Bridge Project Development Manual lists and describes many of these agencies. Additionally, the Bridge Design Section has close working relationships with the following agencies:
Federal Highway Administration. One of the most important interactions since the advent of the Interstate Highway System has been with the Federal Highway Administration. They have maintained strong bridge sections in Washington (Headquarters), Atlanta (Southern Resource Center), and Austin (Texas Division).
National Committees. The Bridge Design Section represents TxDOT on several national committees and organizations that furnish information and develop procedures for structural design.
- The American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
The director of the Bridge Division represents Texas on the prestigious American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Highway Subcommittee on Bridges and Structures. This organization is responsible for writing and revising the structural design specifications to be followed by all 50 states. They publish construction specifications also, but these are modified heavily by our own TxDOT Standard Specifications for Construction of Highways, Streets, and Bridges. The director of the Bridge Division and/or their representatives meet annually with the full bridge committee. The group is divided into several subcommittees, each with a specific structural system to monitor for possible improvements to the specification. Specification revisions usually originate in these subcommittees. Texas has been able to influence the specifications by the results of local research.
- The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way
Association (AREMA)
AREMA is the organization that controls everything associated with railway engineering and maintenance and publishes a specification that must be followed when designing structures on or over a railroad.
- Transportation Research Board (TRB)
The Transportation Research Board is a federal agency that manages transportation research projects contracted by universities and other research organizations in the U.S. and Canada.
- The American Concrete Institute (ACI)
The American Concrete Institute publishes a specification for reinforced concrete that is widely used for building construction. This is a very important institute, with contributors from many universities nationwide. AASHTO sometimes draws on the experience of ACI in revising its specification.
- Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI)
The Prestressed Concrete Institute publishes a manual and keeps up-to-date on developments in prestressed concrete.
- Post-Tensioning Institute (PTI)
The Post-Tensioning Institute publishes a manual and keeps up-to-date on developments in post-tensioned concrete.
- The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
The American Institute of Steel Construction publishes a specification for structural steel design that is widely used in building construction. AISC is active in trying to keep AASHTO current in steel design and publishes a manual that contains much useful information regarding availability and capability of steel components.
- The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)
The American Iron and Steel Institute is a nonprofit service organization for the fabricated steel industry in the United States and is dedicated to presenting the most advanced information available to the technical professions.
- The American Segmental Bridge Institute (ASBI)
The American Segmental Bridge Institute is a nonprofit organization that provides a forum where owners, designers, constructors, and suppliers can meet to further refine current design, construction, and construction management procedures, and evolve new techniques that will advance the quality and use of segmental concrete bridges.
- The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM)
The American Society of Testing and Materials develops and publishes specifications for all types of materials used in highway construction.