Golden Gate Bridge: Deck Investigation

Detailed investigations have found widespread defects and local failures in the roadway slab of the Golden Gate Bridge. Cracking exists throughout over transverse reinforcing bars. Concrete cores established chloride ion contamination beyond the safe threshold level, and electrical potential measurements confirmed the presence of reinforcing steel corrosion. Rehabilitation studies indicated that deck replacement was economically preferable. Of the many deck types investigated, an orthotropic deck section was selected because of savings in dead load, easier erection under traffic conditions, and lower maintenance cost.