Print this page FHWA Bridge Preservation Guide
Mark P. Rossow, PhD, PE Retired
Course Outline
This two-hour online course provides bridge-related definitions and corresponding commentaries, as well as the framework for implementing a systematic preventive maintenance (SPM) program. The goal is to provide guidance on bridge preservation and possibly qualify for federal bridge preservation funding. The commentaries go into detail regarding requirements for obtaining federal funding and the kinds of activities that are eligible.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.
Learning Objective
This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:
- Bridge action categories: replacement, preservation, rehabilitation, preventive maintenance, condition-based activities, condition-based activities, cyclical (non-condition based) activities;
- National Bridge Inventory General Condition Ratings;
- Definition of “structurally deficient”;
- Concept of “functionally obsolete”;
- Meaning of “sufficiency rating”;
- Definition of a systematic preventive maintenance program; and
- Six attributes of an SPM program needed to qualify for federal funding.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for federal, state, and local bridge engineers, area engineers, bridge owners, and bridge preservation practitioners.
Benefit to Attendees
A person completing this course will understand the requirements for instituting an SPM program that would be eligible for federal funding.
Course Introduction
State departments of transportation and other bridge owners are faced with significant challenges in addressing the Nation’s highway bridge preservation and replacement needs. Bridge stewards and owners need to become, inevitably, more strategic by adopting and implementing systematic processes for bridge preservation as an integral component of their overall management of bridge assets.
Course Content
This course is based on the FHWA document, FHWA-HIF-11042, “Bridge Preservation Guide,” August, 2011.
Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.
Course Summary
The objective of a good bridge preservation program is to employ cost effective strategies and actions to maximize the useful life of bridges. Applying the appropriate bridge preservation treatments and activities at the appropriate time can extend bridge useful life at lower lifetime cost.
Related Links
For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
