ECONOMICS OF LOW COST HIGHWAY BRIDGES

THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTENANCE IN THE LIFE AND ULTIMATE COST OF HIGHWAY BRIDGES IS EMPHASIZED. THE QUESTION OF BRIDGE ECONOMICS IS LINKED WITH BRIDGE DESIGN. CAREFUL STUDY SHOULD BE MADE BEFORE REDUCING THE PROPORTIONS OF VITAL MEMBERS LEST THE ADVANTAGES IN CONSTRUCTION COSTS BE ONLY THEORETICAL AND ACTUAL LOSS BE SUFFERED BY INCREASED MAINTENANCE COSTS. THE REVIEWER FEELS THAT MULTIPLE OR CONTINUOUS SLAB SPANS OFTEN PROVE ADVANTAGEOUS WHERE HEADROOM IS LIMITED AND SATISFACTORY FOUNDATION MATERIAL IS NEAR THE SURFACE. CONCRETE DECK GIRDERS SUPPORTED BY CONCRETE PILE OR CONCRETE COLUMN BENTS, DEPENDING UPON FOUNDATION CONDITIONS, ARE SUITABLE FOR THE INTERMEDIATE RANGE OF BEAM SPAN LENGTHS. STEEL STRINGERS ON H-COLUMN PILES ARE SUITABLE IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS IF THE THICKNESS OF METAL USED IS SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE FOR LOSS FROM CORROSION DURING THE SERVICE LIFE EXPECTED. MAINTENANCE OF A WELL DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED CONCRETE BRIDGE SHOULD BE CONFINED TO MAINTENANCE OF THE WEARING SURFACE OR PAVEMENT; MAINTENANCE OF A STEEL BRIDGE SHOULD BE CONFINED TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE PROTECTIVE PAINT COAT AND THE WEARING SURFACE OR PAVEMENT.

• Record URL:
  https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrbproceedings/11/11-028.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 11, Pt 1, PP 124-126; part of Report of Committee on Highway Design: A Symposium on the Economics of Low Cost Highway Bridges. 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:
  • Houk, H H
• Publication Date: 1932

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Monograph Title: Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual Meeting of the Highway Research Board Held at Washington, D.C. December 10-11, 1931. Part I: Reports of Research Committees and Papers
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Board Proceedings
  • Volume: 11
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge design; Bridges; Concrete; Concrete bridges; Construction; Costs; Economics; Highway bridges; Maintenance management; Metal bridges; Pavements; Protective coatings; Service life; Steel bridges; Structural design; Support piles; Wearing course (Pavements)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Construction costs; Maintenance costs
• Old TRIS Terms: Concrete piles
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Economics; Finance; Highways; Pavements; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00209265
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jun 1 1971 12:00AM