Shopping for a New Bridge Coat

Total shop coating of new steel bridges appears to be the best armor against corrosion. This alternative is one of three techniques for diminishing the difficulty and expense of painting studied in the last 20 years at the Michigan Department of Transportation. The agency learned from the failures of two other options—weathering steel and shop-applied primers covered with a field topcoat—and continues to monitor these systems. Since 1983, Michigan has built about 70 total shop coated bridges. Other major structures are under construction.