The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Structures Research and Technology (R&T) Program focuses on providing tools, technologies, and guidance, and support for updated policies. The goal of the program is to improve the safety, structural integrity, longevity, construction processes and cost-effectiveness of highway bridges, tunnels, and other structures.  Activities include research and development to identify and advance cost-effective use of improved materials (e.g., ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) and new steel formulations) to improve bridge performance, development, and delivery of training and tools. These support reliable and effective safety inspection and load rating of bridges and tunnels, as well as improved nondestructive evaluation technologies to support infrastructure condition assessment.  The overarching objectives guiding FHWA’s Structures R&T Program are to:

• Achieve and sustain a state of good repair of bridges, tunnels, and other structures.
• Implement and enhance the effectiveness of transportation performance management.
• Deliver projects faster and more efficiently. 
• Improve the sustainability of highway infrastructure.