SPR-5012: Investigating FAST Act Legislation Requirements for Bridge Load Rating Considering Emergency Vehicles

The research aim is to understand the impact of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act combined with exemptions in Indiana code on load rating of bridges and to develop recommendations that comply with legislation while reducing staff burden. The FAST Act has resulted in emergency vehicle loads that must be considered for load rating of bridges. Due to exemptions in Indiana code, this requirement applies to interstate and noninterstate bridges, leading to the posting of 1,649 bridges, mostly maintained by local agencies. The focus will be on understanding the impact on locally maintained bridges and providing guidance on compliance.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $122,042.00
• Contract Numbers:

  SPR-5012

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Purdue University/Indiana Department of Transportation JHRP

  Purdue University
  1284 Civil Engineering Building, Room 4154
  West Lafayette, IN  United States  47907-1284
• Principal Investigators:

  Thrall, Ashley

• Start Date: 20260815
• Expected Completion Date: 20270814
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge management systems; Bridges; Emergency vehicles; Live loads
• Geographic Terms: Indiana
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01988855
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Indiana Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: SPR-5012
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: May 7 2026 9:23AM