ABSTRACT
Road bridges are long-term investments with an expected lifetime of at least 50 years. In many cases bridges are in such poor condition after a much shorter time that they need to be repaired or replaced. A severe climate, road salt and increasing traffic loads are three major factors causing deterioration of bridge structures. Deterioration of concrete decks is mainly due to the first two factors. In areas with poor soil conditions increasing traffic loads have caused damage to foundations and supporting structures.
