Step 2: Determine Goals & Objectives

Public agencies create bundled bridge projects because of the benefits that can be realized through the process. For some agencies, the objective or goal of bridge bundling may be to address preservation/preventive maintenance of bridges in good and fair condition or to reduce bridges in poor condition, quickly. For other agencies, the incentive for bundling may include: insufficient staff, a sudden increase in funding, an obligatory deadline, or it may be to address a critical corridor or leverage other funding and financing strategies.  However, for nearly all agencies, increased efficiency – in planning, project management, design, procurement, and construction, is the primary reason. Below are some typical goals associated with Bridge Bundling programs:

Accelerates Schedule

  • Save time by accelerating work and expediting project delivery to achieve public improvements sooner.
  • Start construction of multiple bridges simultaneously.
  • Coordinate construction schedule and reduce public disruption.

The New York Works Accelerated Bridge Program helped accelerate project delivery by bundling 116 bridge deck replacement projects over 2 years. The project accelerated delivery by grouping projects into two phases: Phase 1A and Phase 1B. Phase 1A grouped projects that were less complex in nature, and procured them using Design-Bid-Build. Phase 1B grouped bridges that were more complex, and procured them using Design-Build. Bridges in both phases were located throughout the state, often in rural areas. Utilizing two different procurement methods led to a more efficient bundling of projects, accelerating project delivery.

Achieves Cost Savings

In June 2016, Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) awarded five (5) design-build contracts that bundle four-to-six bridge replacements in geographic proximity, into single projects. The result is accelerated delivery of local, aging bridges, repair and replacement using the performance-based design-build bridge bundles contracts specifying maximum detour durations (up to 210 days per bridge), as well as efficiently streamlined delivery and completion timeframes (1,095 calendar days).

Utilizes Available Funding/Financing

  • Maximize use of available funding mechanisms.
  • Take advantage of available financing.

In 2016, the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) created a County Bridge Match Program within the Nebraska Transportation Infrastructure Bank. Participation in the program is voluntary, and projects were let at the county level. Counties submitted bridges to NDOT for inclusion in their program, and could be reimbursed by the County Bridge Match Program up to 55% of the construction costs and up to $150,000 per bridge. The program also allowed multiple counties to submit joint proposals. While this program did not utilize the many federal resources available for bridge bundling projects, it is a testament that rural bridges can be delivered both cross-jurisdictionally and entirely with state and local funds.

Deploys Innovation

  • Innovation Financing:
    • KYTC’s Ohio River Bridge Project: Used innovative finance tools, GARVEE Bonds and Toll Credit as State match to finance 220 county and 20 city bridges in the state, alleviating a need for local entities to contribute funding.
  • Utilizes Alternative Contracting Methods (ACMs):
    • I-5 Willamette River Bridge Project (Oregon): The use of CM/GC contracting resulted in the I-5 Willamette River Bridge project (two bridges) being opened for public use about 13 months earlier than would have been anticipated under the D-B-B contracting method. Input from the CM/GC and the local community, stakeholders, and public agencies helped Oregon DOT to control costs, schedule, and design; manage risks; and resolve and adjust outcomes as the project proceeded. The partnership and constant collaboration among the parties significantly contributed to the success of the project. While bridge bundling can facilitate use of alternative delivery methods such as CM/GC, it is important to note that alternative delivery methods can be utilized for non-bridge bundling projects. Bridge bundling is not a prerequisite to utilizing alternative delivery.