National Center for Wood Transportation Structures

About the research

This project is a task order under the main Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)-sponsored project, “Infrastructure Research and Technology Deployment Program.”

Past regional bridge load rating peer exchanges conducted by the FHWA from 2014 to 2019 proved effective to gain an understanding of the load rating practices used by state departments of transportation (DOTs). The exchanges helped make known the best practices and technologies being used for load rating bridges, posting bridges, and issuing permits. The success of these exchanges and the continual evolution of practices and technology coupled with newly imposed requirements provide reason for additional peer exchanges, which are intended to include representatives from all DOTs.