ABSTRACT
Bridge owners and operators are responsible for delivering users reliable infrastructures within the road network to develop a prosperous economy and a well-functioning society. As bridges are essential components of the transport road network, especially in alpine countries like Switzerland, switching from bridge- to network-based prioritization rankings to ensure a predefined level of sustainable development considering available resources is paramount. That implies the definition of simplified indexes based on specific indicators to establish a bridge’s importance at the network level. The traffic volume, the distance of each artifact from cantonal first aid facilities, the bridge condition assessment, a simplified vulnerability-to-degradation measure, and exposure to natural hazards play a role. The proposed approach, developed for Tessin, could be extended to countries with few principal axes and numerous valleys, like Switzerland. The strategy appears as a potential game-changer paradigm for management of stocks of viaducts and bridges considering multi-hazard risks.
