Quality specifications for roadway bridges. Standardization at a European level

Abstract

Across Europe, the need to manage roadway bridges efficiently led to the development of multiple management systems in different countries. Despite presenting similar architectural frameworks, there are relevant differences among them regarding condition assessment procedures, performance goals and others. Therefore, although existing a complete freedom of traffic between countries, this dissimilarity constitutes a divergent mechanism that has direct interference in the decision making process leading to considerable variations in the quality of roadway bridges from country to country. The need for harmonization is evident. Action TU1406, funded by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology), aims to institute a standardized roadway bridges condition assessment procedure as well as common quality specifications (performance goals). Such purpose requires the establishment of recommendations for the quan-tification of performance indicators, the definition of performance goals and a guideline for the standardization of quality control plans for bridges. By developing new approaches to quantify and assess bridge performance, as well as quality specifications to assure expected performance levels, bridge management strategies will be significantly improved and harmonized, enhancing asset management of ageing structures in Europe. The work developed and the final results and conclusions achieved by COST Action TU1406 will be presented.