There has been a significant amount of effort over the last ten years to develop lightweight modular bridge deck systems that enable rapid construction. Virginia has been a national leader in this area and has constructed numerous bridges with new technologies. Much of this effort has involved alternate materials such as FRP and Aluminum. One problem was that the first-cost for most of these projects was higher compared to traditional concrete alternatives. Life cycle cost projections for the new systems project to be better, but reliable long term performance data is just starting to be available. Overall, the high initial cost has hindered a wider adoption of these technologies for bridges.
What is needed is a lightweight bridge deck system that can be competitive on a first-cost basis with concrete decks. A generic steel bridge deck system will be developed for use on typical girder-type steel bridge superstructures.
Last updated: July 5, 2023
Please note that this file is not ADA compliant. Choose one of below options:
