Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC), A Better Approach to Bridge Construction?

Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) is a common term given to the combination of different procedures that help reduce the construction period of a project. Utilizing these different procedures on bridge replacement/rehabilitation projects presents several benefits, including reduced traffic congestion and improved on-site safety. The purpose of this paper is to recognize the difference between Accelerated Bridge Construction and Conventional Bridge Construction, and the process of deciding which approach is more suitable for a particular project. Specifically, this paper explores the desirable condition in which utilizing ABC would be most beneficial for the owner, builder, community, and environment. The methodology used in this paper is the content analysis method, which includes a large amount of textual information. The analytical constructs may be obtained from existing practices, experience, knowledge of experts, and previous research studies. Throughout this research, data and information was collected from different scientific articles, research papers, books, and journals. The results conclude that when a project is located in a critical area, and time is a vital factor, the ABC approach can be much more beneficial compared to the conventional approach. However, this method cannot be applicable unless owners have financial capability, skilled and competent workers, and the required specialized equipment for the job. Thus, utilizing prefabrication elements is greatly advantageous, but only when owners have the sufficient recourses.