STEEL BRIDGE COATINGS RESEARCH

Maintaining corrosion protection of steel bridges presents a major challenge to bridge owners. Not only are a large percentage of steel bridges reaching a critical level of deterioration, but the cost and logistical problems associated with necessary steel and coating system maintenance are compounded by the lead-containing paints used to coat most of these bridges. Traditionally the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA's) role in bridge painting has been limited to new construction and major roadway rehabilitation projects, but recent changes in federal allocations (i.e., the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991) have shifted funds to routine maintenance projects. Focus has turned to bridge preservation with the establishment of a High-Priority National Program Area (HPNPA) for bridge coatings. The program has targeted the key issues of coating material performance, surface preparation requirements, corrosivity of various environments, environmental compliance and impact, toxicity characteristics, and containment and disposal of waste generated during typical bridge repainting projects. This article outlines the various projects conducted under the bridge coatings HPNPA and provides the key overall findings. Program results are focused on several key technical issues that are expected to become increasingly important in the bridge coating area: life-cycle cost minimization, regulatory compliance, ongoing research, and advanced material testing protocols.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/97july/brdgct.cfm
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1586080
• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Kogler Jr, R A
  • Chong, S-L
• Publication Date: 1997-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 35-40
• Serial:
  • Public Roads
  • Volume: 61
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Federal Highway Administration
  • ISSN: 0033-3735
  • Serial URL: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/
• Publication flags:

  Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Coatings; Compliance; Corrosion protection; Environmental impacts; Environmental quality; Life cycle costing; Materials tests; Metal bridges; Repairing; Research; Steel bridges; Surface preparation; Waste disposal
• Identifier Terms: Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fund allocations
• Old TRIS Terms: Bridge repairs; High-priority national program area
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Environment; Finance; Geotechnology; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials; Research; I35: Miscellaneous Materials; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00739605
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 30 1997 12:00AM