There are many little-used approaches that result in a better highway or bridge project. Among the benefits of such approaches are that they’re faster, safer, have less impact on traffic, provide better quality, and at less cost.
Highways for LIFE provides State DOTs with funding for construction of projects using one or more innovations that the agency has rarely used previously.
The methods and priority given to the actual process for getting innovations and new technologies moved into common practice must be improved in order to accelerate their delivery. Test cases, called "vanguard technologies" have demonstrated excellent results.
By following the Highways for LIFE guidelines, Iowa was one of the first States to receive $1 million for their innovative approach to the work to be completed on the I-80/I-29 Council Bluffs interstate system reconstruction. Due to an accelerated program, they were able to complete the project in half the time it would normally take to accomplish a job of this magnitude. It was important to improve safety, reduce risk as well as construction congestion. Inside is an IDOT employee newsletter that contains additional information regarding this project.
