ABSTRACT
A wide range of factors influences the choice between in situ and prefabricated bridge elements and systems. Functional requirements, contract setup, costs and traffic disturbances are just four of these factors.
Pros and cons for the two methods will be highlighted based on European experience as reported in e.g. Larsson et al. 2012 and Bakker 2014 as well as US experience from the Every Day Counts initiative launched by FHWA.
It is a demand from the society that construction, operation, maintenance and replacement takes place in an economic optimal and sustainable way. This calls for whole life consideration.
It is well known that decisions made early in a project has the greatest impact on Life Cycle Costs and sustainability. Contract setup is an important consideration that has to be addressed in an early phase of each project.
In order for the Infrastructure Manager to make good decisions, whole life tools are in demand. These tools shall be able to handle economic and environmental consequences associated with the decisions taken throughout the life of the bridge.
The MAINLINE project illustrated the interaction between load capacity assessment, performance models, inspection and monitoring, maintenance, strengthening and replacement in an economic and environmental framework. In addition MAINLINE developed prototype tools that supported decision making for existing key railway infrastructure components such as metallic bridges.
Similar to existing bridges, design of new bridges needs to consider whole life costs and environmental impact. The ETSI project between the Nordic Road Administrations has provided tools and guidelines for the assessment of costs, environmental impact and esthetics for new bridges.
The present paper exemplifies Life Cycle Costs and environmental impacts for a standard roadway overpass. Construction costs, operation and maintenance costs and user costs will be elaborate for a prefabricated as well as a cast-in-situ bridge. Furthermore, environmental impact as well as cost associated with accidents will be addressed.
