Load Rating Highway Bridges in the United States: The State of Practice

Abstract

In the United States, a bridge must meet federal requirements in inspection and load rating set forth in the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS). This article (a) introduces the federal requirements about load rating highway bridges in the United States; (b) discusses the current state of practice in load rating; and (c) provides an overview of the load and resistance factor rating (LRFR) method that Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is promoting.