The Maintenance Free BridgeThe Maintenance Free BridgeSearch for the Holy GrailSearch for the Holy Grail

Advice is a form of nostalgia dispensing it is a way ofAdvice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s g y p y gworth…. My advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.

B L h- Baz Luhrmann

What Is A Maintenance Free Bridge?What Is A Maintenance Free Bridge?What Is A Maintenance Free Bridge?What Is A Maintenance Free Bridge?

Is likely to last it’s design lifeIs likely to last it’s design lifeIs likely to last it s design lifeIs likely to last it s design lifeWill require little more than cleaningWill require little more than cleaningI l ti l “ b t”I l ti l “ b t”Is relatively “robust”Is relatively “robust”Details aren’t prone to trigger flagsDetails aren’t prone to trigger flagsBridge isn’t likely to have a items that Bridge isn’t likely to have a items that routinely drive the inspection score downroutinely drive the inspection score downy py p

Thoughts from NYSDOT Bridge Thoughts from NYSDOT Bridge iiMaintenanceMaintenance

Weathering steel redundant not fractureWeathering steel redundant not fractureWeathering steel, redundant, not fracture Weathering steel, redundant, not fracture criticalcriticalRigid frames no skew continuous spanRigid frames no skew continuous spanRigid frames, no skew, continuous spanRigid frames, no skew, continuous spanSolid piers, not in the waterSolid piers, not in the waterIntegral, or stub abutments, no jointsIntegral, or stub abutments, no jointsNo curbs, no scuppers, no parapetsNo curbs, no scuppers, no parapets, pp , p p, pp , p pNo signs or utilities on bridgeNo signs or utilities on bridge

Where Did This Idea Come From?Where Did This Idea Come From?Where Did This Idea Come From?Where Did This Idea Come From?

Washington County Bridges andWashington County Bridges andWashington County Bridges and Washington County Bridges and InspectionsInspectionsFrustration with repeatedly doing theFrustration with repeatedly doing theFrustration with repeatedly doing the Frustration with repeatedly doing the same taskssame tasksR li ti th t th i t fR li ti th t th i t fRealization that the maintenance force Realization that the maintenance force was not getting biggerwas not getting biggerThe Bridge Maintenance Engineer’s credo The Bridge Maintenance Engineer’s credo “capitalize your way out of maintenance”“capitalize your way out of maintenance”

For the purposes of this discussion, we are going to be dealing primarily with those relatively short span bridges that one is likely to find in the local inventory

Areas of Chronic ConcernAreas of Chronic ConcernAreas of Chronic ConcernAreas of Chronic Concern

Waterway Opening and AlignmentWaterway Opening and AlignmentWaterway Opening and AlignmentWaterway Opening and AlignmentScour and Bank ProtectionScour and Bank ProtectionBearings/Seats/PedestalsBearings/Seats/PedestalsBearings/Seats/PedestalsBearings/Seats/PedestalsJointsJointsC b d D iC b d D iCurbs and DrainageCurbs and DrainageRailRailPaint/CoatingsPaint/CoatingsOther issuesOther issues

Waterway OpeningWaterway OpeningWaterway OpeningWaterway Opening

Waterway OpeningWaterway OpeningWaterway OpeningWaterway Opening

Waterway OpeningWaterway OpeningWaterway OpeningWaterway Opening

Stream AlignmentStream AlignmentStream AlignmentStream Alignment

Stream AlignmentStream AlignmentStream AlignmentStream Alignment

Stream AlignmentStream AlignmentStream AlignmentStream Alignment

Scour and Bank ProtectionScour and Bank ProtectionScour and Bank ProtectionScour and Bank Protection

Scour and Bank ProtectionScour and Bank ProtectionScour and Bank ProtectionScour and Bank Protection

Bearings and SeatsBearings and SeatsBearings and SeatsBearings and Seats

Bearings and SeatsBearings and SeatsBearings and SeatsBearings and Seats

Bearings and SeatsBearings and SeatsBearings and SeatsBearings and Seats

JointsJointsJointsJoints

JointsJointsJointsJoints

JointsJointsJointsJoints

JointsJointsJointsJoints

Curbs and DrainageCurbs and DrainageCurbs and DrainageCurbs and Drainage

Curbs and DrainageCurbs and DrainageCurbs and DrainageCurbs and Drainage

Curbs and DrainageCurbs and DrainageCurbs and DrainageCurbs and Drainage

RailRailRailRail

RailRailRailRail

RailRailRailRail

Paint and CoatingsPaint and CoatingsPaint and CoatingsPaint and Coatings

Paint and CoatingsPaint and CoatingsPaint and CoatingsPaint and Coatings

Paint and CoatingsPaint and CoatingsPaint and CoatingsPaint and Coatings

Other IssuesOther Issues -- TrussesTrussesOther Issues Other Issues TrussesTrusses

Other IssuesOther Issues -- TrussesTrussesOther Issues Other Issues TrussesTrusses

“While a rating of 5 might seem low after the- “While a rating of 5 might seem low after the work that was done on the truss the bridge inspection manual is very "penal" on these types of structures. Please refer to pages 7.44 and 7.52. Since it takes so little damage/deterioration to drop a truss from a 7 g pto a 5 it is entirely possible that the rating is correct. Disappointing as it is.”

Other IssuesOther Issues –– Pins and HangersPins and HangersOther Issues Other Issues Pins and HangersPins and Hangers

Other IssuesOther Issues –– Pins and HangersPins and HangersOther Issues Other Issues Pins and HangersPins and Hangers