Bridges

Priorities in bridge engineering are changing. The imperative has shifted subtly from minimum cost to “more for less”, requiring a more holistic approach to sustainable delivery which offers best value to the economy and society as a whole over the life of the asset and not just the minimum project cost. “Sweating the asset” is similarly now about maintaining, adapting and strengthening our existing infrastructure to meet current and future demands as, for example, is embodied in the UK’s Managed Motorways programme. Within this wider sustainability agenda, driving down carbon must now be a primary consideration and while the means of achieving this will frequently match those for minimising cost, often the choice of materials, construction techniques and traffic management will have a profound impact on the carbon associated with a bridge.