Bridge demolition and construction rates: inspection data-based indicators

Abstract

Bridge planning and management require precise and continuous information on how the age and condition of various types of bridges evolve. A main objective for a bridge manager is to keep the bridge stock in a good and safe condition. A research question is how many new bridges need to be constructed and old bridges demolished per year to maintain the average age and condition of the bridge stock. In the current study, indicators to give guidance on the replacement ratio were developed from real data. This paper calculates the construction and demolition rates required to maintain the average age for a population of 1800 bridges in a Swedish region. Annual investment and demolition rates, the major reasons to demolish bridges, the resulting actual service life, costs associated with construction, maintenance and repair and the Swedish Road Administration’s condition quantifier, lack of capital value (LCV), are addressed.