As the end of construction season winds down in many parts of the country, crews are working long hours trying to finish road and bridge projects before the winter weather arrives. From temporary shoring methods to portable bridges, construction companies are making the most of the safety features they already have in place. Whether you are awaiting that interstate project on your way to work to wrap up or you are waiting for the completion of a bridge project that provides quicker access to your neighborhood, many drivers across the country can find at least some relieve in the fact that some projects are being completed on the last of these days with good weather.
Trench Box Shields and Other Types of Temporary Shoring Methods Are the First and Last Parts of Many Construction Projects
If you have ever taken the time to notice more than the inconvenience of a road or bridge project, you probably would have noticed access road construction, trench shoring equipment, and a variety of other safety measures that are put in place for a project ever begins. And while the inconvenience of having to deal with traffic delays and detours can be frustrating, the length of almost all projects is extended as in both the preparation and the tear down of these safety measures.
Consider some of these statistics about the nation’s construction industry and the safety measures that are put in place before the start of any project:
- 200 million trips are taken daily across deficient bridges in the nation?s 102 largest metropolitan regions.
- In total, there are 600,000 bridges in the U.S.
- Simple and multiple are the two basic types of benching approaches. The type of soil determines the horizontal to vertical ratio of the benched side.
- Timber and aluminum hydraulic are the two basic types of shoring.
- To give you an idea of how many bridges in this nation will need future work, consider this statistic: one in nine of the nation?s bridges are rated as structurally deficient. In addition, the average age of the nation?s 607,380 bridges is currently 42 years.
- To eliminate the nation?s bridge deficient backlog by the year 2028, $20.5 billion would need to be invested every year, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Unfortunately, only $12.8 billion is currently being spent a year.
The safety of both workers and drivers is important in any project that involves roads, highways, bridges or other construction projects.
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