Substantial Maintenance Practices for Bridges on the Kansas State Highway System

Abstract

The Kansas Department of Transportation is currently facing the contradictory requirements of providing equivalent or improved operations to facilitate economic growth and reductions in funding. This will require the agency to maintain and operate its existing infrastructure as efficiently as possible. This is particularly true in regard to its inventory of bridges. This project examines KDOT's practices for substantial maintenance of bridges in its inventory and, specifically, the work of the Bridge Maintenance Plans (BMP) squad. The efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery of plans and of engineering support by the BMP squad is reviewed by an analysis of Preliminary Engineering and Construction Engineering costs for substantial maintenance during the period of FY 1993 to FY 2010. The practices of surrounding states are discussed. The cost of current maintenance practices as opposed to more minimal investment in substantial maintenance for bridges is examined by review of the projects in the FY 2003 Bridge Substantial Maintenance program. The findings for agency cost as determined by Bridge Life Cycle Cost analysis are discussed. The findings for user cost as determined by an analysis of user delay at work zones and closures are discussed. The economic impact of allowing bridges at one site in the FY 2003 to deteriorate to restricted status for two years is reviewed.