Chapter 1 Table of Contents - fdot.gov

1 Bridge Maintenance Course Series Reference Manual i Chapter 1 Table of Contents Chapter 1 - Introduction to Bridge Maintenance .. 1-1 Fundamentals of Bridge Maintenance .. 1-1 Target Audience .. 1-1 Other Resources .. 1-1 History of Bridge Maintenance .. 1-1 The Bridge Maintenance Unit .. 1-2 Organizational Structure .. 1-2 Developing the Work Plan .. 1-4 When to Call the Engineer .. 1-6 Deck and Slab Elements .. 1-6 Primary Superstructure Elements .. 1-6 Primary Substructure Elements .. 1-7 Terminology.

2 1-9 Bridge Preservation .. 1-9 Preventive Maintenance .. 1-10 Cyclical Maintenance (Scheduled Maintenance) .. 1-11 Corrective Maintenance and Repairs .. 1-11 Critical Findings .. 1-11 State of Good Repair .. 1-12 Service Life .. 1-12 Design Life .. 1-12 Rehabilitation .. 1-12 Replacement .. 1-12 Benefits of Preventive Maintenance and Consequences of Deferred Maintenance .. 1-12 Balanced Approach .. 1-12 Funding Bridge Preservation .. 1-13 Chapter 1 Reference List .. 1-13 Bridge Maintenance Course Series Reference Manual ii Chapter 1 - List of Figures Figure Section of the Aqua Claudia, South of Rome.

3 1-2 Figure Organization Chart with Bridge Maintenance as Part of Operations .. 1-3 Figure Generic Organization Chart with Bridge Maintenance as Part of Engineering .. 1-3 Figure Example of Work Plan Decision-Making Process .. 1-5 Figure Bridge Action Categories as defined in FHWA Bridge Preservation Guide .. 1-9 Figure Bridge Life Extension by (a) Preventive Maintenance Only, and .. 1-10 Bridge Maintenance Course Series Reference Manual 1-1 Chapter 1 - Introduction to Bridge Maintenance Fundamentals of Bridge Maintenance Target Audience This manual provides fundamental information pertaining to bridge maintenance for those new to and for those advancing in their roles and responsibility within bridge maintenance.

4 The manual serves as a refresher and/or a reference for those currently working in bridge maintenance. Program managers will find this manual useful in a review of an existing bridge maintenance program or when implementing new activities in existing programs. The manual is designed to assist bridge maintenance workers and managers in addressing most common types of bridge distress. Practical procedures for preventive maintenance on highway bridges and culverts are outlined. This manual is not meant to be all-inclusive and does not rule out other maintenance procedures.

5 It is a source of information for those responsible for maintenance and preservation of highway bridges and provides an understanding of strategies and methods of bridge maintenance programs. The manual is not intended to supplant existing agency guidelines or policies, but to be used as a source of information when the need arises. The manual is not a substitute for consulting an engineer with the appropriate qualifications to determine proper repair methods. This manual is of value to engineers, program managers, supervisors, foremen, and field crews.

6 Engineering consultants, academics, and industry representatives will also find this manual to be a valuable resource for maintenance techniques, materials and methods, concepts, strategies, and guidance. Other Resources The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and its training division, the National Highway Institute (NHI), offer many resources that are beneficial to those involved in bridge maintenance. These include: NHI Course 130088 Bridge Construction Inspection NHI Course 130054 Engineering Concepts for Bridge Inspectors NHI Course 130055 Safety Inspection of In-Service Bridges NHI Course 134029 Bridge Maintenance Training NHI Course 134108G TCCC Plan Reading.

7 Bridge Plans (Web Based) These and many other related courses can be found at History of Bridge Maintenance In order to meet the city of Rome's water needs, a system of 11 aqueducts was constructed between 312 and 226 Portions of this system, like the section of the Aqua Claudia pictured in Figure , remain standing to this day as a result of proper maintenance. Historic records indicate crews flushed the pipes of sediment, repaired breaches, and removed calcium carbonate build-up on a periodic basis.

8 Aqueduct designers included access points at regular Bridge Maintenance Course Series Reference Manual 1-2 intervals for inspection and maintenance activities. Throughout the evolution of bridge building, maintenance has played a role in keeping highway structures in service. As designers continue to incorporate modern codes and materials into bridge design, bridge maintenance continues to develop and implement new materials, methods, and strategies to keep existing bridges in service.

9 Figure Section of the Aqua Claudia, South of Rome The Bridge Maintenance Unit Organizational Structure Most transportation agencies have a Central Office that performs administrative functions in support of the District (or Regional) offices. The people that repair and maintain the highway system work in the Districts. Many Departments of Transportation (DOT) are organized by functional area. Units involved with the design of construction projects, developing standard specifications, and updating the Qualified Products List, for example, are commonly housed in a division separate from units responsible for snow removal, highway maintenance, and fleet management.

10 District operations are overseen by administrative counterparts in the Central Office. Figure and Figure illustrate two different ways in which a DOT might incorporate the bridge maintenance function into their organization. Bridge Maintenance Course Series Reference Manual 1-3 Figure Organization Chart with Bridge Maintenance as Part of Operations Figure Generic Organization Chart with Bridge Maintenance as Part of Engineering Organization may be less formal in smaller agencies. A single engineer may serve as bridge designer and bridge maintenance engineer.