According to the National Bridge Inventory (NBI), the average age of the more than 590,000 bridges on public roads in the United States is 40 years. Approximately 28% of the bridges are considered deficient, but funding is not available for replacement or rehabilitation. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) therefore is focusing on rational, systematic processes to extend the useful service life of the nation's bridge inventory, relying in large part on state bridge management systems. In January 2002, FHWA notified state transportation agencies that funds from the Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program (HBRRP) could be used for systematic preventive maintenance on bridges in the federal-aid highway system. This policy has assisted states in managing bridge funds to extend the service life of less critical bridges and to focus on the bridges most in need of replacement or rehabilitation. FHWA has been reviewing its policies and regulations on bridges, to provide additional assistance to the states. A notice of proposed rulemaking to clarify and strengthen the National Bridge Inspection Standards was issued on September 9, 2003, with the goal of improving bridge inspection programs nationwide. Comments on a proposed rulemaking on the HBRRP expressed the need for increased flexibility in state use of bridge funds, particularly for preventive maintenance. FHWA is developing a notice of proposed rulemaking, to be issued later this year or in early 2004, that will address many of the concerns. FHWA also has formed a working group of state and federal bridge personnel to develop a new coding guide for bridge inspection and reporting that will clarify and explain the items coded by bridge inspectors and entered into the NBI. A draft of the updated coding guide will be ready in late 2003 for review and comment by the states. (Entire article)
Samenvatting