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Abstract for presentation (Poster or Podium) with a Paper in the Conference Proceedings

Infrastructure Systems

Examining Design, and Construction and Maintenance Procedures for Texas Off-System Bridges

Monday, June 17, 2024
10:15 AM - 11:30 AM ET
Room: Galleria
Abstract: Design, construction, and maintenance of off-system bridges differ among local governments (i.e., cities and counties). Bridge inspection reports reveal that off-system bridges owned and maintained by local governments exhibit inferior performance compared to those owned and maintained by state highway agencies. However, the lack of knowledge about the design, construction, and maintenance procedures related to off-system bridges in local governments hinders understanding the reasons behind this deficiency. This lack of knowledge poses challenges for state highway agencies to provide necessary guidance regarding the off-system bridges in their continued partnerships with local governments. This research aims to investigate the current procedures related to the design, construction, and maintenance of Texas off-system bridges managed by local governments— including the utilized bridge-related design manuals and standards. Findings from fact-finding surveys and semi-structured follow-up interviews revealed deficiencies in certain existing practices. For instance, several local governments highlighted the absence of any mandatory design criteria (i.e., specific design manual or standard) for developers when designing or constructing bridges. The findings of this research are expected to enhance the overall performance off-system bridges in local governments by providing insights into best practices for design, construction, and maintenance, as well as identifying possible areas for improvement.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees can expect to learn the following from this session:
  • Upon completion, participant will be able to learn the procedures that local governments follow to design, construct and maintain off-system bridges.
  • Upon completion, participant will be able to understand the potential gaps in the design, construction, and maintenance procedures of off-system bridges managed by local governments.
  • Upon completion, participant will be able to learn the best practices for design, construction, and maintenance of off-system bridges managed by local governments.