What to Learn from the Öland Bridge Repair?

In 1972 the longest bridge in Europe, the 6,072 m Öland Bridge in Sweden, was completed at a cost of USD 10 million. It is estimated that a new bridge would today cost more than USD 120 million to construct. In Sweden, discussions of bridge quality in the last decade have focused on durability issues. The reason for this emphasis is that deterioration attributable to durability shortcomings has been observed with increasing frequency. The problems and ensuing costs of the Öland Bridge have significantly contributed to this awareness. While the Öland Bridge experience was both avoidable and expensive, the overall condition of the Swedish bridge stock is generally good. Recent studies indicate that in an international comparison, Swedish bridges are well-managed and in relatively good condition. This may be ascribed to the design philosophy, regular inspections and the systematic bridge management applied by the Swedish National Road Administration since the end of the 1940s.