Rapid Response Techniques for Disasters Near Roadway Work Zones: Temporary Bridges and Expedient Culverts

Work zone traffic management requires consideration of both normal conditions and potential
emergencies. Adverse events such as severe storms and forest fires are becoming increasingly
common in much of the United States, and some regions are prone to earthquakes, landslides, or other
disasters. When such events occur at the same time a road or bridge is under construction, the safety
and mobility impacts of a work zone can be magnified and access to communities can be cut off.
During adverse events, transportation facilities support first–responder access to stricken areas,
evacuations, incident response, post–incident recovery, and traffic detours around disaster areas.
Sometimes a route that was under construction before the adverse event cannot be reopened easily.
In such cases, damaged alternative routes might require rapid repairs, or temporary access roads, all–
terrain vehicle trails, or pedestrian paths need to be built quickly. These facilities often require
the installation of bridges or culverts at a time when it is difficult to bring in materials, equipment, or
extra personnel. This brochure provides an overview of the types of temporary bridges and culverts that can deployed quickly to meet this challenge, including bridges and culverts that can be assembled from locally available materials.