ABSTRACT
Collision damage is the second leading cause of bridge failures in the United States. Data from NHTSA shows a gradual increase in bridge hits over the last few years, which has helped identify the leading causes of bridge strikes. The costs to repair the bridges are also rising due to an overall spike in bridge strikes. Substantial effort has been invested in technology to curb accidents by projecting deterrent messages, sending personalized alerts, and using innovative software. More often, a bridge strike results in a complete or partial closure of the roadway carrying the bridge or under the bridge. A rapid response is paramount in these situations to avoid immediate closure. This paper focuses on bridge impact case studies and the basis of establishing rapid response procedures.
