TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD 2024 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE*

OFFICERS

CHAIR: Carol A. Lewis, Professor, Transportation Studies, Texas Southern University, Houston

VICE CHAIR: Leslie S. Richards, General Manager, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Victoria Sheehan, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC

MEMBERS

Michael F. Ableson, CEO, Arrival Automotive–North America, Detroit, MI

James F. Albaugh, President and CEO, The Boeing Company (retired), Scottsdale, AZ

Carlos M. Braceras, Executive Director, Utah Department of Transportation, Salt Lake City

Douglas C. Ceva, Vice President, Customer Lead Solutions, Prologis, Inc., Jupiter, FL

Nancy Daubenberger, Commissioner of Transportation, Minnesota Department of Transportation, St. Paul

Marie Therese Dominguez, Commissioner, New York State Department of Transportation, Albany

Garrett Eucalitto, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Transportation, Newington

Chris T. Hendrickson, Hamerschlag University Professor of Engineering Emeritus, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

Randell Iwasaki, President and CEO, Iwasaki Consulting Services, Walnut Creek, CA

Ashby Johnson, Executive Director, Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), Austin, TX

Joel M. Jundt, Secretary of Transportation, South Dakota Department of Transportation, Pierre

Hani S. Mahmassani, W.A. Patterson Distinguished Chair in Transportation; Director, Transportation Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

Scott C. Marler, Director, Iowa Department of Transportation, Ames

Ricardo Martinez, Adjunct Professor of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Decatur, GA

Michael R. McClellan, Vice President, Strategic Planning, Norfolk Southern Corporation, Atlanta, GA

Russell McMurry, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Transportation, Atlanta

Craig E. Philip, Research Professor and Director, VECTOR, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Steward T.A. Pickett, Distinguished Senior Scientist, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY

Susan A. Shaheen, Professor and Co-director, Transportation Sustainability Research Center, University of California, Berkeley

Marc Williams, Executive Director, Texas Department of Transportation, Austin

EX OFFICIO MEMBERS

Michael R. Berube, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Sustainable Transportation, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC

Amit Bose, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, Washington, DC

Tristan Brown, Deputy Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC

Steven Cliff, Executive Officer, California Air Resources Board, Sacramento

Rand Ghayad, Senior Vice President, Association of American Railroads, Washington, DC

LeRoy Gishi, Chief, Division of Transportation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, Germantown, MD

Robert C. Hampshire, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC

Jason Kelly, Deputy Commanding General for Civil Works and Emergency Operations, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC

Zahra “Niloo” Parvinashtiani, Engineer, Mobility Consultant Solutions, Iteris Inc., Fairfax, VA, and Chair, TRB Young Members Coordinating Council

Ann Phillips (Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, retired), Maritime Administrator, Maritime Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC

Sophie Shulman, Deputy Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC

Karl Simon, Director, Transportation and Climate Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC

Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC

Polly Trottenberg, Deputy Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC

Jim Tymon, Executive Director, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Washington, DC

Veronica Vanterpool, Acting Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC

Michael Whitaker, Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC

Kristin White, Acting Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC

Vinn White, Deputy Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Washington, DC

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM

Systematic, well-designed, and implementable research is the most effective way to solve many problems facing state departments of transportation (DOTs) administrators and engineers. Often, highway problems are of local or regional interest and can best be studied by state DOTs individually or in cooperation with their state universities and others. However, the accelerating growth of highway transportation results in increasingly complex problems of wide interest to highway authorities. These problems are best studied through a coordinated program of cooperative research.

Recognizing this need, the leadership of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 1962 initiated an objective national highway research program using modern scientific techniques—the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP). NCHRP is supported on a continuing basis by funds from participating member states of AASHTO and receives the full cooperation and support of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), United States Department of Transportation, under Agreement No. 693JJ31950003.

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine was requested by AASHTO to administer the research program because of TRB’s recognized objectivity and understanding of modern research practices. TRB is uniquely suited for this purpose for many reasons: TRB maintains an extensive committee structure from which authorities on any highway transportation subject may be drawn; TRB possesses avenues of communications and cooperation with federal, state, and local governmental agencies, universities, and industry; TRB’s relationship to the National Academies is an insurance of objectivity; and TRB maintains a full-time staff of specialists in highway transportation matters to bring the findings of research directly to those in a position to use them.

The program is developed on the basis of research needs identified by chief administrators and other staff of the highway and transportation departments, by committees of AASHTO, and by the FHWA. Topics of the highest merit are selected by the AASHTO Special Committee on Research and Innovation (R&I), and each year R&I’s recommendations are proposed to the AASHTO Board of Directors and the National Academies. Research projects to address these topics are defined by NCHRP, and qualified research agencies are selected from submitted proposals. Administration and surveillance of research contracts are the responsibilities of the National Academies and TRB.

The needs for highway research are many, and NCHRP can make significant contributions to solving highway transportation problems of mutual concern to many responsible groups. The program, however, is intended to complement, rather than to substitute for or duplicate, other highway research programs.

NCHRP RESEARCH REPORT 1132

Project 08-139
ISSN 2572-3766 (Print)
ISSN 2572-3774 (Online)
ISBN 978-0-309-73260-4
Library of Congress Control Number 2024951452
Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.17226/28813

© 2025 by the National Academy of Sciences. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the graphical logo are trademarks of the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

Authors herein are responsible for the authenticity of their materials and for obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein.

Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) grants permission to reproduce material in this publication for classroom and not-for-profit purposes. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply TRB, AASHTO, APTA, FAA, FHWA, FTA, GHSA, or NHTSA endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. It is expected that those reproducing the material in this document for educational and not-for-profit uses will give appropriate acknowledgment of the source of any reprinted or reproduced material. For other uses of the material, request permission from CRP.

NOTICE

The research report was reviewed by the technical panel and accepted for publication according to procedures established and overseen by the Transportation Research Board and approved by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied in this report are those of the researchers who performed the research and are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; the FHWA; or the program sponsors.

The Transportation Research Board does not develop, issue, or publish standards or specifications. The Transportation Research Board manages applied research projects which provide the scientific foundation that may be used by Transportation Research Board sponsors, industry associations, or other organizations as the basis for revised practices, procedures, or specifications.

The Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; and the sponsors of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names or logos appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of the report.

Published research reports of the

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM

are available from

National Academies Press
500 Fifth Street, NW, Keck 360
Washington, DC 20001

(800) 624-6242

and can be ordered through the Internet by going to
https://nap.nationalacademies.org

Printed in the United States of America

The National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Lincoln, as a private, nongovernmental institution to advise the nation on issues related to science and technology. Members are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research. Dr. Marcia McNutt is president.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to bring the practices of engineering to advising the nation. Members are elected by their peers for extraordinary contributions to engineering. Dr. John L. Anderson is president.

The National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) was established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to advise the nation on medical and health issues. Members are elected by their peers for distinguished contributions to medicine and health. Dr. Victor J. Dzau is president.

The three Academies work together as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions. The National Academies also encourage education and research, recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge, and increase public understanding in matters of science, engineering, and medicine.

Learn more about the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine at www.nationalacademies.org.

The Transportation Research Board is one of seven major program divisions of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The mission of the Transportation Research Board is to mobilize expertise, experience, and knowledge to anticipate and solve complex transportation-related challenges. The Board’s varied activities annually engage about 8,500 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest. The program is supported by state departments of transportation, federal agencies including the component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individuals interested in the development of transportation.

Learn more about the Transportation Research Board at www.TRB.org.

COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMS

CRP STAFF FOR NCHRP RESEARCH REPORT 1132

Monique R. Evans, Director, Cooperative Research Programs

Waseem Dekelbab, Deputy Director, Cooperative Research Programs, and Manager, National Cooperative Highway Research Program

Ahmad Abu-Hawash, Senior Program Officer

Sheila A. Moore, Program Associate

Natalie Barnes, Director of Publications

Heather DiAngelis, Associate Director of Publications

NCHRP PROJECT 08-139 PANEL
Field of Transportation Planning—Area of Planning Methods & Processes

Dave L. Huft, South Dakota Department of Transportation, Pierre, SD (Chair)

Jacqueline Darr, North Dakota Highway Patrol, Bismarck, ND

Joanna Jungels, Anderson Trucking Service, Inc., St. Cloud, MN

William Lambert, New Hampshire Department of Transportation, Concord, NH

Caroline A. Mays, Texas Department of Transportation, Austin, TX

Narayan Selwal, California Department of Transportation, Sacramento, CA

Sarah M. Wilson, Illinois Department of Transportation, Schaumburg, IL

Jeffrey Robert Purdy, FHWA Liaison

AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The research reported herein was performed under NCHRP Project 08-139 by the Institute for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation (IPIT) at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), VHB, and Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA). UWM was the contractor for this study, with support from VHB and ARA serving as subcontractors.

Dr. Xiao Qin, P.E., Lawrence E. Sivak ‘71 Professor of Civil & Environmental Department and Director of IPIT at UWM, was the Project Principal Investigator. Other authors of this guide are Dr. Frank Gross, P.E., Researcher at VHB and Co-Principal Investigator; Jason J. Bittner, MPA, PMP, Researcher at ARA and Co-Principal Investigator; Dr. Habib Tabatabai, Ph.D., Professor of Civil & Environmental Department at UWM; Dr. Andrew Graettinger, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research of Engineering & Applied Science, Office of the Dean at UWM; Dr. Yang Li, Ph.D., Research Associate of IPIT, and Mohammad Wael Amer, Graduate Research Assistant at UWM; Dr. Bob Scopatz, Researcher at VHB; Sam Arnold, P.E., Researcher at VHB; Dan D’Angelo, P.E., PMP, PMI-RMP, PfMP, Researcher at ARA; Dr. Hannah Silber, Researcher, and Neil Janes, Staff Research Analyst at ARA.

FOREWORD

By Ahmad Abu-Hawash
Staff Officer
Transportation Research Board

NCHRP Research Report 1132: Bridge and Tunnel Strikes: A Guide for Prevention and Mitigation presents state-of-the-art information to assist state departments of transportation (DOTs) in the prevention and mitigation of bridge and tunnel strikes by overheight motor vehicles. The guide provides a risk-based approach that can help identify high-priority locations, diagnose factors contributing to the risk of bridge and tunnel strikes, select and prioritize countermeasures, and evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures. The guide also includes a roadmap for state DOTs and other transportation agencies to implement and maintain a national clearinghouse for data collection. The guide was developed based on an extensive review and study of the state of the practice. The research findings will be used by state DOTs and public safety agencies.

Bridge and tunnel strikes inflict serious damage to vehicles, highway bridges, and tunnels; cause injuries and fatalities; and impose detours and costly delays on highway users. Attempts by state DOTs and other bridge and tunnel owners to prevent bridge and tunnel strikes include signing, lighting, height detection systems, and actuated warning devices. However, these efforts have achieved limited success. Furthermore, the lack of comprehensive information on the number, location, and severity of bridge or tunnel strikes limits understanding of their frequency, impact, causation, and potential mitigation. Research was needed to inform state DOTs about the best practices for preventing and mitigating the risk of bridge and tunnel strikes by motor vehicles.

Under NCHRP Project 08-139, “Guide for Preventing and Mitigating the Risk of Bridge and Tunnel Strikes by Motor Vehicles,” the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee was asked to (1) develop a national data clearinghouse for collecting and analyzing data and communicating bridge and tunnel strike data and clearance information; (2) identify and evaluate implemented countermeasures used to prevent bridge and tunnel strikes; (3) develop a risk-based, data-driven approach to evaluate the risk of a bridge or tunnel strike; (4) develop prevention and mitigation strategies; (5) analyze the relationship between the vehicle-permitting processes and bridge and tunnel strikes; (6) develop training and outreach materials; and (7) develop a roadmap to implement and maintain the national clearinghouse. The research team developed a guide, training materials, and a web-based prototype national data clearinghouse for consideration by AASHTO.

In addition to the guide published as NCHRP Research Report 1132, the following materials are available on the National Academies Press website (nap.nationalacademies.org) by searching for NCHRP Research Report 1132: Bridge and Tunnel Strikes: A Guide for Prevention and Mitigation.

CONTENTS

Summary

Chapter 1 Introduction

1.1 Defining a Bridge or Tunnel Strike

1.2 Magnitude of the Issue

1.3 Challenges Mitigating BrTS Risk

1.4 Purpose of the Guide

1.5 Target Audience

1.6 Organization of the Guide

Chapter 2 Bridge and Tunnel Strike Risk Assessment

2.1 Overview of Risk-Based Assessments

2.2 Common BrTS Risk Factors

2.3 Applying Risk Factors to Prioritize Locations

Task 1 – Identify Elements to Analyze

Task 2 – Calculate Risk Score

Task 3 – Prioritize Elements

2.4 Analyzing Data to Identify Risk Factors

Data Needs

Analysis Procedures

2.5 Collecting and Integrating Risk Factor Data

Crash Data

National Bridge Inventory and National Tunnel Inventory

U.S. DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics Railroad Bridge Data

Data Linkage

National BrTS Data Clearinghouse

Chapter 3 Bridge and Tunnel Strike Countermeasures

3.1 General Countermeasure Considerations

3.2 Matching Countermeasures to BrTS Risk Factors

3.3 Countermeasure Summaries

Passive Systems

Sacrificial Systems

Active Systems

Vehicle-Based Systems

Nonphysical Countermeasures

Other Tried Strategies

Data Quality Improvements

Chapter 4 Countermeasure Selection Process

4.1 Quantitative Methods

Benefit-Cost Analysis

Safe System Approach

4.2 Qualitative Methods

Chapter 5 Post-Implementation Evaluation Process

5.1 Project Tracking

5.2 Project-Level Evaluations

Performance Measures

Methodology

Data Requirements

5.3 Countermeasure-Level Evaluation

Performance Measures

Methodology

Data Requirements

5.4 Program-Level Evaluation

Performance Measures

Methodology

Data Requirements

Chapter 6 Conclusion

Glossary

References

Acronyms

Appendix Resources