Bridge Owner's Benefits from Probability-Based Management Of Old Bridges.

The growth of national economies in the later half of the 20th century has resulted in steadily increasing traffic volumes on trading routes and inan increase in the demands placed on an aging bridge stock. Ironically, economic growth has not resulted in an increase in the budgets available tobridge owners for maintenance of their aging resource. The approach adopted by the Danish Road Directorate with Ramboll as consultant in addressingthis challenge has been to exploit advances in scientific methods in the management of its bridges. The use of probabilistic approaches within the areas of safety assessment of bridges, safety-based bridge management and ship impact assessments have resulted in substantial cost savings and the future maintenance and repair needs have been decreased. The various areaswhere the probabilistic approaches have been applied are exemplified presenting both the technical approach and administrative and financial benefits. For the covering abstract see ITRD E139491.