ABSTRACT
Building a functional transportation infrastructure is a high priority for any nation. Equally important is maintaining and upgrading its integrity to keep pace with increasing usage, higher traffic loads, and new technologies. At present, in the United States a great number of bridges are considered structurally deficient, and many are restricted to lighter traffic loads and lower speeds. Such bridges need to be repaired or replaced. This task may be achieved by using the same or similar technologies and materials used originally for their initial construction many years ago. However, new materials and technologies may provide beneficial alternatives to traditional materials in upgrading existing bridges, and in the construction of new bridges. Composite materials offer unique properties that may justify their gradual introduction into bridge repair and construction.
