Defining a Bridge Maintenance Strategy – Some Practical Constraints

In order to maintain approximately 1500 engineering structures, the road office of Grisons in Switzerland has to repair or replace between 30 and 50 structures each year. Timing and scope of interventions is mainly driven by the condition state of the structures and options to coordinate construction works with fulfilling other requirements on the same road. A sustainable maintenance plan has not only to ensure structural safety and serviceability in the long term; but a high road availability and a reduction of overall maintenance costs are of similar high priority and further issues to consider. This contribution shows also, how budget, capacities, structural condition as well as changes of road geometry requirements and load bearing capacities influenced the definition of the asset specific bridge maintenance strategy.