Implications of the long term bridge performance program for life cycle costing in the United States

Abstract

Since 1972, the United States, like many countries, has collected information on its highway bridges as part of a national bridge inspection program. This information is maintained by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) database. The NBI contains information on the condition of more than 590×103 bridges, tunnels, and culverts located on public roads. It is one of the most comprehensive sources of long term bridge information in the world. In recent years, a majority of the states have implemented element level inspection programs to support state and local level bridge management programs. A basic limitation of both the NBI and the element level approach is that the data collected relies upon visual inspection techniques. The subjective, variable, and generalized nature of this data makes it less desirable for comprehensive long term life cycle decision support. The research necessary to support the information needs for bridge management for the future, including the routine application of life cycle costing, is a Long Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) program. The LTBP program is an ambitious 20-year research effort that is strategic in nature and has both specific short term and long range goals. The program will include detailed inspection, periodic evaluation and testing, continuous monitoring, and forensic investigation of representative samples of bridges throughout the United States in order to capture and document their performance. This program will result in a high-quality quantitative database for highway bridges that will ensure the value, success, and efficiency of bridge management systems in the future.