Aesthetic Guidelines for Older Bridges

Abstract

As the nation's infrastructure ages, many older bridges face rehabilitation or replacement. Many of these structures have historical significance, and others have become community landmarks. Distinctive metal truss bridges and various concrete arch bridges still grace the nation's highways, but they are rapidly disappearing because they cannot meet the safety requirements of modern highway usage. As a result, where roadway and river crossings were once defined by expressive, sometimes monumental spans that made the passage truly an experience, travelers now speed efficiently over unobtrusive structures, often unaware they were ever on a bridge. Engineers are becoming increasingly aware of the undercurrent of public sentiment for preserving these links to the past. Opposition to replacement can delay needed improvements for months and even years, but it can be overcome by incorporating the existing bridge into alternative solutions that meet both the functional needs and the aesthetic desires of the commun...