Protecting our Bridges WSDOT Bridge Vertical Clearance Trip Planner TransComm 2015 Skills Competition Annapolis, Maryland Lars Erickson Communications Director Washington State Department of Transportation

Skagit River Bridge Collapse On May 23, 2013, an over height load struck the Skagit River Bridge, knocking part of it – and three vehicles – into the river, shutting down a portion of Interstate 5 and causing $17 million in damage and repair costs.

Since 2008, we’ve documented 127 strikes on Washington bridges and overpasses. Even minor strikes can lead to costly repairs. Fifteen strikes were serious enough to close or restrict the bridge Bridge strikes are unsafe for all motorists Emergency closures often needed for inspections Damages our taxpayers’ investment in these structures Two strikes in 2015 alone will cost $2 million total to repair A serious, expensive problem

Previously, drivers had to look up each bridge one by one List was static and accessed either in a printed book or a series of PDFs online Checking each bridge was time-consuming and could lead to errors Under state law it’s the truck drivers’ responsibility to ensure the route is safe Previous system static, time-consuming

We wanted to make it easier for drivers to identify clearance concerns and make safer decisions. The WSDOT State Route Bridge Vertical Clearance Trip Planner allows drivers to: Map their route online Receive data updated weekly Identify bridges that are too low or may require a specific lane Link to more specific details about highlighted bridges User-friendly GIS tool

Drivers enter their vehicle and load height and the state highway Results are displayed on a map Bridges with too-low clearance show as red dot Bridges that require specific lane to safely pass under shown as yellow dot. Drivers can click on dot for more detailed information A survey found many states publish only static bridge clearance data. WSDOT’s data is both timely and easier to access. Information at your fingertips

Layout works on multiple screen sizes and devices Eliminates the need for more than one version of the product Half of all WSDOT web traffic now comes from mobile devices, so it was imperative this tool be mobile friendly Application kept simple to ensure it was usable across wide spectrum Mobile-ready by design

We knew the tool needed to be something truck drivers and others would actually use. To achieve that we: Developed the application with input from the Washington Trucking Association Field tested it with WTA drivers Conducted WSDOT Usability Testing sessions with members of the public Modified the final product to increase ease of use and convenience Usability is key

The State Route Bridge Vertical Clearance Trip Planner debuted in January Averages 2,100 page views per month The older bridge list system previously had 900 page views per month; it now has about 800 Conclusion: the new application is being used mostly by a new audience, raising the total views of bridge info to ~3,000 per month Initial reviews have been positive Increased views, increased safety “We love the time saving benefit this website provides… We give it 2 thumbs up.” “The best vertical clearance map I have used.” “Useful information that is friendly and has a visual basis.”

We’ve promoted the tool through a blog, earned media, social media and industry presentations. We’re also working to add more features/options: Lane-by-lane clearance levels should be in place by 2017 The new database is available to third-party developers to create new driver safety apps The open data approach is key to increasing safety for all drivers What’s next?