ABSTRACT
Bridge inspections and maintenance are essential to assure safety, increase durability, reduce life-cycle costs, maintain mobility, and improve reliability of the transportation system. This chapter discusses some issues for designers to consider based on the input from bridge inspectors and maintenance engineers, and based on the established practice, codes, and guidelines in the United States. Bridge inspection and maintenance are an integral part of bridge management in ensuring the safety and durability of bridges in a cost-effective manner. Bridge Maintenance can be defined as the process of maintaining or preserving a bridge or the process of keeping a bridge in good condition to provide the intended level of service. Steel bridges are relatively easy to inspect and document loss of section and degradation compared to concrete structures. For unusual bridges, bridge inspectors should be made aware of critical details, including the presence of any fracture critical details, by showing the presence and location of these details on the as-built plans.
