WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King wrote to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, Senators James Inhofe (R-OK) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA), to request that the transportation reauthorization bill include investment in innovative technologies that will address “our rapidly aging transportation infrastructure.”

In their letter, the Senators underscored that “in 2013, 11 percent, or 66,405, of our nation’s bridges were structurally deficient. In ten years, one in four bridges will be 65 years or older; repairing this infrastructure would cost $76 billion.”

In an effort to address the significant and increasing degradation of American transportation infrastructure, the Senators “requested that the transportation reauthorization bill include funding to create a $10 million national research imitative for Hybrid Composites in Transportation.”

The Senators highlighted that these technologies “can reduce…costs, reduce replacement time, and strengthen local manufacturing jobs.  This national research initiative would focus its research and development efforts on concrete-composite bridge systems and manufacturing technologies that reduce cost and time and extend the life of existing bridges.”

Text of the letter:

Or click HERE for a PDF of the letter.

May 19, 2015

The Honorable Jim Inhofe                                       The Honorable Barbara Boxer

Chairman                                                                  Ranking Member

Committee on Environment and Public Works       Committee on Environment and Public Works

United States Senate                                               United States Senate

Washington, DC 20510                                           Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Inhofe and Ranking Member Boxer:

As you consider the reauthorization of MAP-21, we respectfully request that the transportation reauthorization bill include funding to create a $10 million national research initiative for Hybrid Composites in Transportation that will help to address our rapidly aging transportation infrastructure. In 2013, 11 percent, or 66,405, of our nation’s bridges were structurally deficient.  In ten years, one in four bridges will be 65 years or older; repairing this infrastructure would cost $76 billion.   Emerging hybrid composite materials technologies can reduce these costs, reduce replacement time, and strengthen local manufacturing jobs.  This national research initiative would focus its research and development efforts on concrete-composite bridge systems and manufacturing technologies that reduce cost and time and extend the life of existing bridges.

Advanced Composite Bridge Technologies are designed to improve the safety, efficiency, reliability, and performance of our nation’s transportation infrastructure. These technologies address the growing needs to accelerate the adoption of proven, high-payoff, and innovative practices, technologies, and materials that lead to faster construction and cost-effective rehabilitation of efficient and safe bridges. To that end, we request an additional $10 million in the Research, Technology, and Education Program for the demonstration and deployment of advanced composite materials in bridge replacement and rehabilitation.

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