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Building a Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Integrated Bridge System GRS IBS Bridge



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Building a Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Integrated Bridge System GRS/IBS Bridge
 

Instead of conventional bridge support technology, Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) Integrated Bridge System (IBS) technology uses alternating layers of compacted granular fill material and geosynthetic reinforcement to provide support for the bridge. GRS provides a smooth transition from the bridge onto the roadway, and alleviates the "bump at the bridge" problem caused by uneven settlement between the bridge and approaching roadway.​

GRS/IBS bridges may be a good fit for your bridge replacement project if your bridge is:

  • A 140 feet or less single span
  • Has abutment heights of 30 feet or less
  • Has steel or concrete superstructures

GRS/IBS bridges save construction time and save money for the bridge owner. The technology has started to spread across the nation as a part of the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Every Day Counts Initatives.

On May 5th, 2014, the Ohio LTAP Center hosted a workshop on the GRS/IBS technology. The presentation is available at the link below. The presentation includes general information on GRS/IBS plus great technical information and a question and answer session with the leading County Engineer in Ohio who has installed more GRS/IBS bridges than anyone else in the nation.

We encourage you to click the link below to view the workshop. The presentations from the workshop and the plan sets referred to in the workshop are located below the webinar viewing link: Go to the webinar

  
  
01-Tong - EDC Presentation.pdf
  
02-Alzamora - GRS-IBS_presentation 1.pdf
  
03-Schlatter - Ohio’s GRS Experience.pdf
  
04-Alzamora - GRS-IBS_presentation 2.pdf
  
05-Mulligans Bluff plan.pdf
  
06-Bend Rd plan.pdf
  

 Additional GRS/IBS Resources

For more information on GRS/IBS bridge technology, please visit the FHWA Every Day Counts website.