CONDITION OF THE NATION'S HIGHWAY BRIDGES: A LOOK AT THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

This article looks at the past, present, and future of bridge engineering, and reaches the following conclusion: The bottom line is that the U.S. highway bridge network is one of the safest in the world. Failures in the 1960s, and occasional failures since then, have reminded the bridge engineering community of the need to be vigilant with respect to constantly evaluating the condition of the nation's bridges and improving the way these valuable assets are managed. The use of comprehensive condition data, the application of new technologies, and the ability to project future conditions and needs are all part of an inventory asset management approach that is now under development. When fully implemented, this approach will incorporate the use of higher technology while optimizing the application of financial resources to provide a safe, durable, and efficient highway system.