Pennsylvania Bridges: Maintaining the Past - Preserving the Future

Pennsylvania Departmentof Transportation Video VH-414 Pennsylvania Bridges: Maintaining the Past - Preserving the Future To keep long term costs down and ensure safety, a good preventative maintenance program is vital. The overall performance life of a bridge can be extended considerably with a relatively small investment and no major component replacement or rehabilitation. Cost effective maintenance activities include: eliminating deck joints, repairing or installing expansion dams, repairing bridge decks, maintaining proper deck drainage, restoring or replacing bridge bearings and approach slabs, repairing bridge beam ends and bearing areas, and bridge painting. Good bridge management depends on good information, including frequent inspections (biannual) and a data management system allowing engineers to prioritize maintenance and rehabilitation needs. Emphasis is on performing the right treatment at the right time on the right bridge.