DISCUSS A PROJECT

The Material About Us Our Solutions  Project Success Blog Contact Us

Structurally Deficient Bridges

The United States infrastructure and our “crumbling” roads and bridges, in particular, have been in the national consciousness for several
years now. In the wake of deadly bridge collapses in Italy and Miami and evidenced by the numerous bridge failures of the past, many
experts are concerned that the number of structurally deficient bridges in the county has reached a critical point.

The Current State of the US Bridge

Infrastructure

54,259 of the country’s 612,677 bridges, or approximately 8.86%, are rated “structurally deficient” according to the ARTBA. One in three of
America’s bridges have identifiable repair needs and the average age of each structurally deficient bridge is 67 years.  That’s compared to
40 years for non-deficient bridges.

The Interstate Highway System, which carries 75% of the nation’s heavy truck traffic, has 1,800 structurally deficient bridges. That’s one
for every 27 miles of highway.

Many bridges have hidden failures and are still being used. It’s estimated that Americans cross structurally deficient bridges 174 million
times each day.

Where are we with Repairs and

Rehabilitation?
Unfortunately, the pace of repairing, renovating, and replacing the nation’s
bridges has been relatively slow. This is due in part to political gridlock, but also
because funds are too often diverted to other priorities – the number of bridges
with structural deficiencies dropped just 1% in 2018.

The rising cost of fixing our bridges is also contributing to the deadlock – and
those costs will only continue to grow as our bridges grow older and weaker.

According to the ARTBA’s 2018 Bridge Report, if all bridges would be repaired
today, it would cost $57.8 billion to replace the 34% of our structurally deficient
bridges. 29% of our bridges require rehabilitation, which would cost $49.2 billion
and 17% of our bridges need widening in addition to rehabilitation, costing $28.8
billion. Other projects such as deck rehabilitation and structural work, will cost
at least $35 billion altogether.

In light of these statistics and the rising costs of repairing our infrastructure,
experts and policymakers are searching for innovative solutions to cut costs
and make our bridges more resilient and long-lasting.

What is a “Structurally Deficient” Bridge?

Technically, a “structurally deficient” bridge is still operational. It also does not imply that the bridge is unsafe or that it is likely to fail and
collapse. However, there are elements of structurally deficient bridges that need to be repaired or monitored closely for defects.

According to the Congressional Research Service, the public policy research arm of the United States Congress, bridges are considered
structurally deficient “if significant load-carrying elements are in poor condition due to deterioration or damage.” They are also
considered structurally deficient “if the waterway opening of the bridge causes intolerable roadway traffic interruptions.”

In other words, a structurally deficient bridge may be restricted to light vehicles or closed periodically for rehabilitation and maintenance.
Structurally deficient bridges must often have postings about weight restrictions – a common sight on US roadways – and officials will
close the bridge immediately if they determine it to be unsafe.

Structurally De cient Bridges

How Is a Bridge Determined to Be

Structurally Deficient?
Bridge inspections are governed by both federal and state regulations and
guidelines. Although these guidelines may vary state-by-state, federal
guidelines and inspection regulations are covered by the National Bridge
Inventory Standards (NBIS).

These standards provide regulations, policy, guidance, and additional

information regarding the inspection of bridges.

For example, under the “Guidance” section of the NBIS, the standards establish
guidelines for the following:

A time-frame for installing load posting signs at bridges

Underwater inspection of bridge substructures using imaging technology

Risk-based interval determination for routine bridge inspections

Guidance plans for corrective action

Inspection of bridges and tunnels on transit highways

Bridge load ratings for the national bridge inventory

Funding for bridge inspection equipment and access features

Revisions to the NBIS

The NBIS sets timeframes for bridge inspections. It requires bridges to be inspected every 24 months, with underwater inspections
occurring every 60 months.

Most state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) expand upon the federal guidelines, however, requiring that inspections occur more
often than outlined. States typically require inspection personnel to be certified engineers. All inspectors must complete training, and
many states require their training be updated regularly.

DOTs typically use a numbered and color-coded rating system of 0 to 9 to rate bridge integrity. A 9 rating would imply that the bridge is
in excellent condition, whereas a 0 rating would imply that the bridge has failed.

Using this system, bridges can fall into four separate categories depending on the severity of their condition:

Using this system, bridges can fall into four separate categories depending on the severity of their condition:

Preservation and preventive maintenance (7-9) Maintenance (5-6)

Rehabilitation (4) Replace or rebuild (0-3)

The general public typically does not know the condition of the bridges they drive over, but certified inspectors can determine whether a
bridge needs to have a weight limitation or whether it needs to be closed for repairs or a rebuild.

Bridges that rank at 3 or less on this scale are considered unsafe. This may warrant the restriction of bridge traffic or the closing of the
bridge for repairs and reconstruction. 

Challenges Facing the US Bridge Infrastructure

Challenges facing the US bridge infrastructure stem from various sources, including previous government inaction. Lack of awareness on
behalf of the public is also a challenge, as it is the public who could pressure policymakers to act.

However, current initiatives to invest more funds into our nation's infrastructure are underway. These conversations are starting among
leaders and policymakers – with broad support from the construction and material producing industries. 

But as long as the nation’s infrastructure continues to be neglected, the problem will only become more pronounced and more expensive
to fix. Engineers, policymakers, and lawmakers at the state and federal level are searching for solutions in technology and innovation. But
a dramatic change in the country’s mindset, as well as policy action, will be necessary to solve the problem.

A Lack of Government Funding

n 2017, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave America’s overall
infrastructure a score of D+. The engineers  gave the nation’s bridges an overall
score of C+.

Despite recent increases in infrastructure spending over the past several years,
there is still a considerable shortfall of available funds to fix the nation’s roads
and bridges. The longer this funding gap exists, the more it will exacerbate the
problem.

Approximately $17.5 billion was spent on bridge projects in 2012 according to

the ASCE. While this represents a substantial increase in infrastructure
spending ($11.5 billion was spent in 2006), it only puts a dent in the funding
necessary to fix the nation's bridges. According to the most recent federal data,
the backlog for the rehabilitation of the nation’s bridges is at least $123 billion.

In 2010, the Committee for Economic Development estimated that it would cost
up to $87 billion to maintain the country’s highway and bridge systems in their
current condition. They surmised it would cost as much as $145.9 billion per
year to make meaningful improvements.

Funding has been delayed for multiple reasons. For one, many state and federal
representatives are unwilling to submit their constituents to the enormous cost
– either by raising taxes or making cuts to other programs.

Furthermore, delays in Congress to pass spending bills have also been a serious
roadblock. The Highway Trust Fund, a fund established to pay for the
maintenance of bridges and other infrastructure, is on the brink of insolvency.

Generally, leaders tend to be more interested in pursuing new infrastructure

projects rather than rehabilitating old ones. New projects tend to generate more
positive press and are more tangible examples of successful policy-making, at
least in the political sphere.

Aversion to Unfamiliar Solutions

In addition to inaction at the policy level, there has been a lack of willingness at
the national level to fully address the country’s infrastructure problems.
Although most Americans are aware of the concerning state of our nation’s
roads and bridges, the issue has taken a backseat.

Thankfully, politicians are currently proposing bills that would provide much-
needed funds for the country's infrastructure, including a potential $2 trillion
infrastructure bill at time of writing.

Some in the field have also been unwilling to try new and innovative solutions
which have the potential to cut costs and make out bridges more durable.
Instead, they are attracted to known solution, more commonly used in the
industry.

Additionally, bridge project operators, and especially those funding these

operations, are often too concerned with short-term goals, rather than the entire
lifecycle of the bridges being produced. This is true in terms of costs and in
terms of the material being used to construct and repair bridges.

The costs of constructing a new bridge are often justified, but funds are rarely
set aside to address that bridges inevitable maintenance costs several years
down the road.

Changes must be made at the policy level, but the culture and general outlook
of those who manage construction projects must change as well. Instead of
focusing on quick wins, they must adopt a more long-term mentality, taking into
consideration repair and rehabilitation stages that occur across the entire
lifecycle.

Game-changer – The Role of UHPC in

Restoring American Infrastructure
There are multiple emerging and applied technologies which have exciting applications in the restoration of the country’s infrastructure.

Drones make it easier for engineers to spot problems, augmented reality helps planners visualize their projects and technicians to work
more effectively. Autonomous vehicles and devices powered by the internet of things (IoT) also show promise in helping bridge
construction and repair projects go faster.

But innovative construction materials will also play a major role in restoring American infrastructure.

Ultra-High Performance Concrete is a new class of concrete that has been lauded for its strength and durability. Although the material
has only seen sporadic use in recent decades, more and more companies and governments are inquiring about its applications due to
the infrastructure crisis.

The UHPC market is expected to be worth $1.9 billion by 2025.

According to a 2013 report by the US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), “The dense matrix of
UHPC prevents deleterious solutions from penetrating into the matrix, and so the mechanisms that can cause conventional concrete to
deteriorate are not present. Consequently, durability properties, as measured by permeability tests, freeze-thaw tests, scaling tests,
abrasion tests, resistance to ASR, and carbonation, are significantly better than those of conventional concrete.”

The oldest structures built with the material may have only been in place since the late 20th century, but it is showing steady growth and
promise in the industry.

What Makes UHPC Different?

The FHWA defines UHPC as “a cementitious composite material composed of
an optimized gradation of granular constituents, a water-to-cementitious
materials ratio less than 0.25, and a high percentage of discontinuous internal
fiber reinforcement.”

The material has a compressive strength greater than 21.7 ksi and has a pore
structure that reduces the amount of liquid ingress when compared to regular
concrete. This significantly enhances the durability of the material.

Compared to regular concrete, UHPC also comes with the

following benefits:

Greater strength

Increased durability

Greater flexibility

Greater ductility

Direct tension resistance Impact resistant

Chemical attack resistance Lower maintenance

Experts in Europe, Asia, and the Americas have all been generating studies and
use cases for the product.

According to one 2018 case study, researchers from the Universiti Teknologi
PETRONAS, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in Perak,
Malaysia stated, “One of the primary advantages of UHPC is its excellent
durability. Structures made with UHPC will have much longer service life with
lower maintenance and repair cost in the future compared to CC or HPC (high-
performance concrete) structures.”

Applying UHPC to Structurally

Deficient Bridges
In addition to applying UHPC to new construction projects, the material also
holds promise for repair projects, particularly for structurally deficient bridges.

Without fundamentally altering the makeup of deficient bridges, repair crews

can instead apply UHPC overlays to existing structures to provide the bridge
with the material’s best properties. Even with an overlay, UHPC can provide an
existing bridge with:

Low permeability

Freeze and thaw resistance

Abrasion resistance

Shrinkage and crack resistance

Excellent strength and stiffness

Additional structural resistance

The material bonds well with existing concrete decks  and can substantially
expand the life cycle of existing infrastructure. UHPC can even be formulated
specifically for repair purposes.

Examples of Completed Projects in North

America
Case studies for UHPC are emerging, and there are already plenty of evidence for its efficacy. Below are a few examples of complete
UHPC projects in North America.

The CN Rail Bridge Pier in Montreal,

QC
The Canadian National Railway needed an innovative solution to repair a rail
bridge pier in Montreal, Quebec due to severe salt ingress. Because the rail
bridge crosses over a 2-lane narrow access ramp, the repair cover had to be
thin in order to maintain adequate clearance.

The existing concrete was degraded, so it had to be removed. Workers placed a

galvanized rebar cage to allow for about 100 mm (4”) of new UHPC to be
poured.  

A self-leveling formulation of UHPC was used for the repair. Using a relatively
small amount of material, the repair job was completed at a minimal cost. This
new layer of UHPC will provide protection for the existing bridge structure
against future chloride ingress and freeze-thaw

The Hagwilget Bridge in New Hazelton,

BC
The Hagwilget Bridge in New Hazelton, BC is owned by the British Columbia
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. It’s a single lane suspension
bridge with a span of 140 m that hovers 75 m above the water below.

Enhancements and upgrades had been made to the bridge since the 1980s to
increase truck-carrying capacity and structural integrity. Modifications were also
made to increase resistance against lateral winds and earthquakes.

In this case, UHPC was added to rehabilitate and encase 32 steel bent legs,
which had begun to corrode at their base. The UHPC was applied to strengthen
the legs’ weak areas and mitigate any further corrosion. The applied material is
expected to protect the legs from corrosion and improve the structural integrity
for many years.

The Hooper Road Bridge, Union NY

This 3-span bridge is located on Hooper Road just east of Binghamton, New
York. It crosses over Route 17C just east of Binghamton, NY.

In this project, the existing columns would remain while the superstructure was
replaced. Additionally, new precast pier caps would need to be connected to the
existing pier columns. UHPC was used for the closure pours and link slaps on
the superstructure, then used again for the connections of the pier caps. This
innovative construction method saved valuable time and money on the project.
 The entire project was completed in only 21 days.

UHPC – Your Partner in Bridge Rehabilitation

There are a myriad of use cases for UHPC in the repair, renovation, retrofitting, and new construction of the nation’s bridges. The material
allows for greater speed of execution and a more long-lasting structure, which in turn reduces costs dramatically.

There are many challenges facing the successful renovation of the United States infrastructure. While some must be solved at the policy
and budgetary level, innovative solutions like UHPC can play a significant role in addressing the nation’s deteriorating bridge
infrastructure.

To learn more about innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions like UHPC, talk to a UHPC expert.

Bridge Repair Experts

Learn more about innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective
solutions like UHPC.

TALK TO A UHPC EXPERT

UHPC has an estimated longevity of more than 75 year.

Regular concrete typically only lasts 15 to 25 years.

VIEW OUR PROJECTS

Contact Us Quick Links Keep up to date with

projects and news
UHPC SOLUTIONS NA The Material
SIGN UP
433 Broadway, Suite 604 About Us
New York, NY 10013
The Solutions
EMAIL contact@uhpcsolutions.com Project Success
PHONE (844) 857-8472 Contact Us

COPYRIGHT UHPC SOLUTIONS 2019 | LEGAL DISCLAIMER & POLICIES