Assessment of load capacity of existing highway bridges

A primary responsibility of bridge managers is to ensure that the bridges under their care are safe for use and fit for purpose. To achieve the latter, bridge managers must be satisfied that their structures have sufficient capacity to carry the loads they are required to take. This chapter discusses the requirements for and procedures to be followed in assessing the load-carrying capacity of existing structures. It outlines the assessment process, from the inspection of a structure, through the stages of assessment, to the reporting of the findings.

One of the key challenges for bridge engineers in the UK is the safe management of an ageing stock of bridge structures, many of which have been subject to deterioration and increasing traffic loads since their construction. The process of structural assessment enables an understanding of the behaviour and capacity of bridges in their current condition and forms a key part of the process of safeguarding the highway network and enabling continued service.