Abstract

Despite over 30 percent of bridges in the United States having exceeded their 50-year design lives, most state departments of transportation (DOTs) lack the funding needed to replace bridges on a large scale. In response, agencies have increasingly turned to bridge preventive maintenance activities to prolong bridge service lives. These activities provide a safe and cost-effective way to slow the rate at which structures deteriorate, mitigate the effects of aging, and improve bridge functional condition. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has become increasingly reliant on preventive maintenance to preserve and extend the service lives of its steel and concrete bridges. In need of resources to educate current and future inspectors, KYTC commissioned Kentucky Transportation Center researchers to develop training modules for supervisors, field crews, inspectors, and contractor personnel. Based on a literature review, analysis of guidance issued by other state DOTs, and knowledge accumulated on earlier projects, researchers created eight training modules that address key bridge preventive maintenance activities including bridge deck patching, cleaning and painting pier caps and abutments, cleaning and sealing bearings, bridge deck expansion joints, bridge deck sealing, bridge washing, erosion and sediment control, and spot painting.

Report Date

9-2023

Report Number

KTC-24-12

Digital Object Identifier

https://doi.org/10.13023/ktc.rr.2024.12

Download

Share

COinS