Improving the condition of bridge networks: Michigan crafts a preservation program.

In 1998, when the Michigan legislature passed a bill that substantially increased highway funding, the leadership of the Michigan Department of Transportation (DOT) responded by developing a strategic plan to preserve, maintain, and improve the state's trunkline bridges. Fulfilling the plan required a paradigm shift, making asset management and long-range strategic planning routine parts of daily business at Michigan DOT. The strategic investment plan for bridges includes a key role for preventive maintenance.