This Manual has been developed to assist Bridge Owners by establishing inspection procedures and evaluation practices that meet the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS). The manual has been divided into nine sections, with each section representing a distinct phase of an overall bridge inspection and evaluation program.

Section 1 contains introductory and background information on the maintenance inspection of bridges as well as definitions of general interest terms. Key components of a comprehensive bridge file are defined in Section 2. The record of each bridge in the file provides the foundation against which changes in physical condition can be measured. Changes in condition are determined by field inspections. A bridge management system is an effective tool in allocating limited resources to bridge related activities. An overview of bridge management systems is included in Section 3. The types and frequency of field inspections are discussed in Section 4, as are specific inspection techniques and requirements. Conditions at a bridge site or the absence of information from original construction may warrant more elaborate material tests, and various testing methods are discussed in Section 5. Section 6 sets forth procedures for the evaluation of bridges using the Load and Resistance Factor method. The evaluation of existing bridges for fatigue is discussed in Section 7. Field load testing is a means of supplementing analytical procedures in determining the live load capacity of a bridge and for improving the confidence in the assumptions used in modeling the bridge. Load test procedures are described in Section 8. Section 9 is entitled “Special Topics,” and deals with the evaluation of masonry bridges and other bridge-related issues.

The successful application of this manual is directly related to the organizational structure established by the Bridge Owner. Such a structure should be both effective and responsive so that the unique characteristics and special problems of individual bridges are considered in developing an appropriate inspection plan and load capacity determination.

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