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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation
OFFICE OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND TECHNOLOGY AT THE TURNER-FAIRBANK HIGHWAY RESEARCH CENTER

Resilient Pavements

Wildfire Pavement Project

This project aims to understand the direct and indirect impacts of wildfires on pavements and identify gaps and needs in this area of research.

NOAA Sea-Level Rise Research

This multidisciplinary research program develops integrated physical and biological process modeling and tools for evaluating vulnerability and facilitating informed adaptation planning and coastal management decisionmaking.

Congressional Permeable Pavements Study

The Federal Highway Administration is responsible for completing a permeable pavements study, as outlined in section 11518 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

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cracked brown pavement with thermometer on its surfaceClimate change poses a direct challenge to the integrity of U.S. infrastructure, including U.S. pavement transportation systems. Order 5520 sets forth FHWA’s policy to prepare for and address infrastructure resilience. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law defines resilience as:

… a project with the ability to anticipate, prepare for, or adapt to conditions or withstand, respond to, or recover rapidly from disruptions, including the ability--

(A)(i) to resist hazards or withstand impacts from weather events and natural disasters; or

(ii) to reduce the magnitude or duration of impacts of a disruptive weather event or natural disaster on a project; and

(B) to have the absorptive capacity, adaptive capacity, and recoverability to decrease project vulnerability to weather events or other natural disasters.

For the full definition, see sec. 11103 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Pub. L. 117-58 (Nov. 15, 2021).


Disruptions to pavement infrastructure originate from climate stressors. A few examples of climate stressors of concern include, but are not limited to, extreme events, increased temperature, precipitation, sea-level rise, and wildfires.