Quick facts about the projects
The I-270 and Dorsett/Page Project was recently awarded the 2011 Missouri Waste Control Coalition's Outstanding Achievement Award in the Environmental Innovation category.
The I-270 and Dorsett/Page Project included several Earth friendly innovations that could serve as a model for other highway construction projects nationwide.
The innovations included:
- Existing concrete girders were used during construction of the temporary bridge bypasses that carried I-270 traffic during construction of the new I-270 bridges over Dorsett Road. These girders were then returned to MoDOT for future use.
- The project used NU Type Concrete Girders for the permanent bridges that provided enough clearance for MoDOT and contractor Fred Weber to allow crews to save time and decreased environmental impacts by reducing the amount of excavation of Dorsett Road for the new bridges. The NU Type girders are smaller than typical concrete girders and were developed through engineering research at the University of Nebraska.
- LED fixutures were used for all highway lighting.
- The construction contracts for this project included special provisions and goals for using recycled materials and earth friendly practices. Fred Weber used on site pavement rubble as embankment, recycled 300-plus tons of scrap metal, extensive use of bio diesel in construction equipment, and a methane gas fueled asphalt plant.
- These special provisions and goals helped Fred Weber earn green credits and the project goal was met.
A Green Project
The I-270 and Dorsett/Page project was one of the first projects by the Missouri Department of Transportation to feature "green credits."
The contractor, Fred Weber Inc., was assigned green credit values for using recycled materials and/or earth friendly practices during construction.
Green credit goals are outlined within the contract between Fred Weber Inc. and MoDOT.
Fred Weber will be charged penalties for each credit that falls short of its goal.
The contractor can be rewarded for each green credit that exceeds the goal.
For the contractor, there are monetary incentives and disincentives when utilizing environmental methods and materials.
Green credit items during construction
Fred Weber, Inc. is committed to using recycled materials for construction. Some options that MoDOT offers credits for are:
- recycled asphalt
- recycled shingles
- recycled tires
- recycled broken concrete
- cement substitution in concrete
- lumber from sustainable forestry practices
Green credits for reducing pollution
- Use of bio-diesel with heavy equipment
- implementation of a idling reduction plan
- automated idle shutdown
Fred Weber can also submit other environmental friendly ideas to MoDOT for approval during construction. MoDOT can either approve or not approve proposed ideas. Other ideas approved by MoDOT will be assigned green credit values.