Need for Culvert Asset Management

Abstract

Through Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 34 (GASB 34), departments of transportation (DOTs) are required to track their infrastructure costs and conditions through asset management practices. GASB 34 is applied primarily to roadways and bridges; access and inspection of that visible infrastructure are comparatively easy. However, underground culvert infrastructure is also a critical component in asset management. With the growing problem of culvert deterioration across the country, it is important to consider these underground assets in the inventory and inspection process. As part of this report, all 50 U.S. state DOTs were sent a survey concerning culvert asset management issues. The resulting 28 responses identified that several states are working toward developing an inventory database and planning to implement an inspection program. Many are not yet considering applying asset management practices to their culvert infrastructure. Several agencies did identify failure as a primary reason for developing the inventory and inspection programs. Because culvert failures are often the motivation for agencies to respond, some recent failure examples are reviewed. Previous research recommended a national tracking of culvert failures to understand the risks and costs better. This paper builds on that idea and identifies the benefits of culvert asset management. These benefits include up-to-date inventory, reduced failures through regular inspection, reduced emergency repair costs and unplanned financial burden, better budget planning for repair and replacement, and long-term ability to identify actual life cycle and performance of various pipe materials.