The influence of design and detailing on the life and maintenance of a bridge

Each new structure is designed in accordance with the standards and details which are codified at the time of its design and conception, and with the requirements of the owner of the bridge who will be responsible for its maintenance in the long term. The codes and standards are guidelines, but are not generally definitive, which gives the design engineer scope to use best practice and his own experience when designing an individual structure. The main enemy of a bridge, in the UK at least, is uncontrolled water, but careful attention to the use of materials and the shaping of the vulnerable areas to shed water and take it away in a controlled manner can ensure that the maintenance requirements of a structure can be minimized.