Sustainable practices for bridge structures

On a typical project, the sustainability requirements of bridges should be considered from the planning stage or earlier. In recent years, a lot of research has been undertaken to improve the durability of reinforced concrete and with the use of high-grade steel and weathering steel, the sustainability aspects of bridges have significantly improved. To ensure sustainability in bridges, the already available framework of sustainability covering environmental, economic and social aspects can be implemented. There are several other frameworks and guidelines available from different countries about the sustainability requirements that can be useful for bridges. The paper presents a brief overview of sustainability in bridges, current practices and areas of emerging and future opportunities to improve sustainability.