InTrans / Aug 14, 2018
The Modern Timber Bridge Program in the State of Maine: A Five-Year Report
According to the most recent US Forest Service
survey, Maine is the most heavily forested state in the
US. However less than 3% of MaineÛªs bridges are
made out of timber. In 1989, the University of Maine
led a state effort to develop a plan that would increase
the use of Maine timber in bridge construction.The
plan, called the Maine Timber Bridge and
Infrastructure Initiative (MTBI) called for research at
the University of Maine, construction of sixteen
demonstration bridges over 10 years, and technology
transfer. This paper describes the goals of the MTBI,
the accomplishments of the program in the first five
years, and outlines some obstacles and opportunities.