Many bridges and culverts in Canada are in a serious state of disrepair or are structurally inadequate for modern operating conditions. The estimated cost to replace these structures is staggering. Materials and construction costs are often minor when compared to the social, environmental, heritage and economic impact costs of a bridge replacement. Relining or building a structure within a structure is a solution that can minimize costs at all levels. As excavation and demolition of the old structure are avoided or more easily staged to manage detours, the costs and public impact are minimized. The construction techniques used for relining require a smaller access area, lower quantities of building materials and smaller construction equipment. This paper will outline a number of techniques used to reline small bridges and larger culverts providing alternatives for consideration. It will be presented as a series of case studies of Ontario installations both recent and revisited. Methods and materials will be discussed as will significant site factors that influenced the decision to reline versus rebuild. For the covreing abstract of this conference see ITRD number E211426.
Abstract