ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF ICE AND FROST ON BRIDGE DECKS (ABRIDGMENT)

The objective of this research was to develop a comprehensive cost-benefit methodology, complete with a set of realistic parameter values, that can be used by a highway administrator to determine the added design or extra maintenance cost justified to prevent or remedy ice or frost on bridge decks. The emphasis, throughout, was on localized icing, that is, situations where the bridge deck and approach pavement conditions are dissimilar. Major activities included formulation and evaluation of a bridge classification or hazard model, the formulation of a cost-benefit methodology, and computation of illustrative examples of the cost-benefit methodology application. The bridge classification model was developed for predicting the annual number of ice and snow accidents on a bridge, given various characteristics of the bridge. The prediction is based on average daily traffic, length, width, location (urban and rural), type of crossing (water and other), highway type (divided and undivided), and bridge type (concrete and other). The cost-benefit methodology consisted of a benefit model and a cost model. The benefit model calculates a yearly dollar benefit that is the difference between accident costs without a special localized icing countermeasure and accident costs with the countermeasure. The cost model includes those costs incurred to combat localized ice or frost, including detection or prediction devices, the countermeasure, and repair and maintenance costs arising later because of the countermeasure. Numerical examples of the cost-benefit methodology were calculated by using data from selected regions of the country. It was concluded that the cost-benefit methodology developed in comprehensive and has the flexibility to represent a variety of situations and countermeasure systems.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/576/576-001.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=ECONOMIC+EVALUATION+OF+THE+EFFECTS+OF+ICE+AND+FROST+ON+BRIDGE+DECKS+(ABRIDGMENT)&author=R.+Blackburn&author=J.+Glennon&author=W.+Glauz&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Winter Maintenance. 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:
  • Blackburn, Robert R
  • Glennon, John C
  • Glauz, William D
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 1
• Monograph Title: Pavement and Bridge Icing
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 576
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Average daily traffic; Benefit cost analysis; Bridge approaches; Bridge decks; Bridge design; Bridges; Countermeasures; Crashes; Economic analysis; Evaluation; Forecasting; Frost; Frost susceptibility; Hazards; Ice; Maintenance management; Mathematical models; Structural design
• Uncontrolled Terms: Maintenance costs; Models
• Old TRIS Terms: Frost effects
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Economics; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00139575
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309024900
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 6 1976 12:00AM