THE BRIDGE BATTLE: NEW TECHNIQUES FORM THE FOREFRONT OF BRIDGE BUILDING AND DESIGN

Bridge building trends usually derive from a continually shifting balance between structural design, material capabilities, and construction technologies. Materials and construction techniques are developed or adapted to meet increased structural demands, while new bridge designs are created to take advantage of advances in materials and construction methods. In the U.S., the poor condition of many bridges coupled with tight budgets and growing traffic congestion are helping to drive this interaction of design, materials, and construction. Based on an analysis of data from the FHWA's National Bridge Inventory, the Road Information Program (TRIP) reported that 28% of U.S. bridges need repair or replacement due to deterioration or not meeting current design standards. This article discusses some new techniques that can help deal with the problem of failing bridge infrastructure.