ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Bridge management based on recent theoretical developments has become a major social concern in Japan. The Japanese central and local governments are deeply concerned about the management of existing bridges. This is because the number of deteriorated bridges is increasing due to increasing volume of traffic, increasing weight of road vehicles, and structural aging. However, the budget limitations of local governments for bridge maintenance actions and new construction are much more severe than those of the central government. Therefore, local governments are deeply concerned about the management of their bridges.
