ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: The paper presents the actual situation worldwide concerning the evaluation of condition state and assessment of remaining capacity of existing bridges, their maintenance options and the possibilities on repair and strengthening. The future trends and foreseen research needs in each one of those subjects related to the management of existing bridges are also discussed. Looking at the present situation, one of the main conclusions derived is that an emerging gap is appearing between the increasing needs in the management of the existing infrastructure and the educational skills that civil engineering students are receiving with the existing university curricula, mainly focused on the design and construction of new structures.
