Bridge owners across the United States are faced with two very critical, and often conflicting, problems: constructing bridges more quickly than ever before and constructing these same bridges without unnecessarily impacting the surrounding environment. The incremental launching method can help alleviate the problems.

The incremental launching method offers a number of significant benefits to bridge owners and contractors, including:
· safer and faster construction
· minimal disturbance to congested or environmentally-sensitive areas
· smaller but more concentrated area required for erection

Nearly 1000 bridges have been constructed using the incremental launching method, most of which are located in Europe. Nevertheless,  the method has seen very limited application in the United States.

The objectives of this project were to review and discuss the state-of-the-practice of incremental launching of bridges around the world, and to identify the critical issues for consideration in design and construction of bridges using incremental launching. A strategic plan for increasing the use of incremental launching in the U.S. was also developed.

The contractor's final report can be downloaded HERE.