Analysis of Optimal Bridge Programming Policies

Many facilities on the nation's bridge network are either in need of structural repair or are of inadequate design to service a modern fleet of vehicles in a safe and efficient manner. These needs have arisen at a time when available funding for bridge capital outlays is limited. To rectify this situation, ISTEA legislation of 1991 mandated the development of bridge management systems. A primary role of these systems is to provide a systematic analysis of optimal policies in the programming of bridge rehabilitation and replacement activities. A procedure that can be used to evaluate a set of possible optimal policies using output from the Indiana Bridge Management System is presented. The types of uses for a bridge management system are emphasized.