Study of Bridge Demolition DOT Survey and Available Standard Specifications

Nazanin Rezaei,David Garber

doi:10.1155/2019/4896717

Nazanin Rezaei, David Garber

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/4896717

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Abstract

There are many damaged bridges in the United States which are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete and require replacement or rehabilitation, many using accelerated bridge construction (ABC) techniques. Before a bridge is replaced or rehabilitated, the old structure or component needs to first be demolished. Although the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specification presents minimum bridge design requirements, there is limited information about bridge demolition available for designers and contractors in this field. More study is required to determine best practices in demolition administration and avoid further unintentional events. This study presents the results from a survey prepared and disseminated through a research effort under the Accelerated Bridge Construction University Transportation Center (ABC-UTC). This survey was sent out to all State Departments of Transportation (DOTs). The results of the survey reveal the need for additional guidance in bridge demolition administrations at a national level. According to the results of this study, contractors are the most important part of bridge demolition projects from injuries, fatalities, and responsibility point of view.

Highlights

During their design life, bridges may need replacement or rehabilitation for a number of reasons: deterioration of bridge materials, accidents, drainage, debris, vegetation, scouring of foundation, movement of the structure, and condition of approaches [1]
Bai et al [8] developed a model for demolition bridges, and it is mentioned that providing a knowledge-based information system is necessary for demolition plans and organizing key elements such as major players, major tasks, and major decisions
All of these incidents created a desire amongst bridge owners to better understand the demolition oversight policies and eventually create a best practices guide for demolition administration. e goal of the research conducted and discussed in this paper was to gain a better understanding of the number of failed demolitions that are occurring but not captured by the media. ere is a need to see if there is a bigger problem than just these three failed demolitions, and gather the bridge demolition administration policies from bridge owners, to see the current practice of states and determine successful policies

Summary

Introduction

Bridges may need replacement or rehabilitation for a number of reasons: deterioration of bridge materials, accidents, drainage, debris, vegetation, scouring of foundation, movement of the structure, and condition of approaches [1]. While a team was working to demolish part of an old railroad bridge, a part of the bridge buckled under the weight of the construction equipment and caused a collapse over the CA-91 Freeway in Riverside, which was open to traffic in both directions This incident led to the death of one of the construction workers who was on the bridge. E reason for the collapse was not found, but the blast demolition was being performed by a company without experience in blast demolition, which was likely a contributing factor to the collapse All of these incidents created a desire amongst bridge owners to better understand the demolition oversight policies and eventually create a best practices guide for demolition administration. All of these incidents created a desire amongst bridge owners to better understand the demolition oversight policies and eventually create a best practices guide for demolition administration. e goal of the research conducted and discussed in this paper was to gain a better understanding of the number of failed demolitions that are occurring but not captured by the media. ere is a need to see if there is a bigger problem than just these three failed demolitions, and gather the bridge demolition administration policies from bridge owners, to see the current practice of states and determine successful policies

Methodology

Summary of Results

Overview of Current Policies

Findings

Conclusions