DEVELOPMENT OF NEW DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION GUIDELINES FOR LOW-VOLUME ROAD BRIDGES

Low-volume road bridges in the United States are currently designed with the aid of AASHTO Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges. These specifications were primarily developed for high-volume urban and interstate highways. The design and construction of low-volume road bridges is therefore expensive. It is obvious from the current design and funding pattern in the United States that available funds are not sufficient to rehabilitate or replace all the deficient low-volume road bridges. A systematic investigation is therefore being performed to study the cost-effective use of various super- and substructural systems and miscellaneous bridge components to better use available funds. The unique characteristics of a low-volume road bridge are defined in this paper as a function of speed limits, average daily traffic, gross vehicle weight, and bridge width. The standard highway bridge specifications of the United States and other countries are reviewed and modifications to certain specifications and elimination of others are proposed. Feasible low-volume bridge components can be selected by eliminating inappropriate alternates and comparing the advantages and disadvantages of the remaining super- and substructural bridge systems. Concrete, steel, and timber structural components are reviewed, and design and cost scenarios that were developed in this study are highlighted. In order to recommend the effective use of limited available funds for bridge replacement programs, a value engineering approach was adopted to research the cost-effectiveness of various bridge components; types of materials used in the construction of low-volume road bridges; and current specifications for design, construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1987/1106v2/1106v2-014.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=DEVELOPMENT+OF+NEW+DESIGN+AND+CONSTRUCTION+GUIDELINES+FOR+LOW-VOLUME+ROAD+BRIDGES&author=H.+GangaRao&author=M.+Hegarty&publication_year=1987
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309044545
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appeared in Transportation Research Record N1106, Fourth International Conference on Low-Volume Roads, Volume 2. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • GangaRao, Hota V S
  • Hegarty, Michael J
• Conference:
  • International Conference on Low Volume Roads, 4th, 1987, Ithaca, New York, USA
• Publication Date: 1987-8

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 122-130
• Monograph Title: FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LOW-VOLUME ROADS. VOLUME 2
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1106
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge design; Bridge substructures; Bridge superstructures; Bridges; Construction; Cost effectiveness; Costs; Finance; Financing; Low volume roads; Maintenance management; Specifications; Structural design; Value engineering
• Uncontrolled Terms: Construction costs; Maintenance costs
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I53: Construction of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00473140
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309044545
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 30 1987 12:00AM