TIMBER BRIDGES: PART OF THE SOLUTION FOR RURAL AMERICA

A detailed inventory of the condition of highway bridges in the United States has been prepared in recent years. The study described in this paper indicates that an overwhelming proportion of rural highway bridges are on roads that serve low volumes of traffic. As a result of recent bridge failures and the vast number of bridges whose intended service lives have been exceeded, significant federal funding has been targeted for rehabilitation and replacement. The importance of directing an optimal proportion of funds to rural bridges is examined. The poor condition of bridges in rural regions and the impact of the problem on the rural livelihood and economy is documented. The findings of a search of the National Bridge Inventory to assess the performance current condition of timber bridges are reported. The function that the use of contemporary timber bridges can serve in addressing the severe rural bridge restoration needs has been identified. Descriptions are provided of favorable factors that were found to pertain to both existing and recently developed timber bridge technologies. These factors provide an incentive to the continued and increased use of timber bridges. A case study in Pennsylvania is documented to profile the nature of timber bridge use and the negative impact of unattended bridge repair needs in a state with a diverse rural economy. Constraints and reservations that have existed in regard to the recent use of timber bridges in rural regions are discussed. An exhaustive program of engineering development, research, and transfer of technology that is related to a plan to significantly increase the use of timber bridges in the rural highway environment is summarized.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1987/1106v2/1106v2-015.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=TIMBER+BRIDGES%3A+PART+OF+THE+SOLUTION+FOR+RURAL+AMERICA&author=R.+Brungraber&author=R.+Gutkowski&author=W.+Kindya&author=R.+McWilliams&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:
  • Brungraber, Robert
  • Gutkowski, Richard
  • Kindya, William
  • McWilliams, Ruth
• Conference:
  • International Conference on Low Volume Roads, 4th, 1987, Ithaca, New York, USA
• Publication Date: 1987-8

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 131-139
• 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: Bridges; Case studies; Condition surveys; Development; Driver rehabilitation; Economics; Equipment replacement; Finance; Financing; Inventory; Low volume roads; Maintenance; Maintenance management; Needs assessment; Research; Rural areas; Technology transfer; Wooden bridges
• Uncontrolled Terms: Rehabilitation; Replacement; Research and development; Restoration
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Economics; Education and Training; Finance; Freight Transportation; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Research; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00473141
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309044545
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 30 1987 12:00AM