Engineering and Technical

Bridge Construction and Maintenance

Bridges concentrate a network's risk into single structures, and a region with many river crossings and few alternative routes cannot absorb the loss of one. This course covers building and keeping them. Delegates work through bridge types and where each is appropriate, from culverts and slab bridges to beam, box girder and cable supported structures. Substructure construction follows: abutments, piers and the river works and cofferdams that make them possible. Deck construction is covered across in situ, precast beam and incremental methods. Prestressing is addressed at a practical level, including stressing operations and grouting. Bearings, expansion joints and drainage are treated as the components that cause most long term trouble. Inspection regimes follow, covering routine, principal and special inspections. Common defects are addressed, including scour, which is the leading cause of bridge loss. Load assessment and posting are covered. The course closes on repair, strengthening and emergency response after a flood.