Lesson Learned

1

Definition of "Systematic Approach" to preservation varies widely from office to office.

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2

Implementing bridge preservation (preventive maintenance) measures - using cost-effective means to extend the useful life of bridge structure assets - will likely go a long way in staving off an increase of structurally deficient bridges due to the wave of structures that appear to be nearing the end of their useful life.

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3

The use of Healers/Sealers in extending bridge deck life; I would like to establish a Paint Health and a Bridge Deck (deck area based) Health Index to get a better performance measures/tools to gauge the condition of these elements and prioritize their preservation.

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4

May use the Low Slump placement method (showcased by a sponsor vendor) for concrete patching method to repair overhead voids.

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5

I learned that everyone is in our shoes as well. It seems that we all have similar situations and are using similar products, and have failures with similar products.

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6

Problems and challenges are the same but, solutions and approaches are different. Each agencies are not structured the same way therefore, goals are the same except approaches may vary.

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7

Keeping things simple when selling the needs.

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8

Coating treatments for weathering steel structures.

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9

Keep Deck and Expansion Joints in very good condition.

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10

Use BMS information in coordination and optimization of bridge preservation activities.

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11

We need to be aggressive and proactive in our approach to bridge preservation.

12

Continue educating our leaders and staff on the importance of bridge preservation and champion for a long term, sustained, and adequate funding source for bridge preservation.

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13

Recommend additional performance goals and measures to my management.

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14

Communicate with other states on finding solutions to common bridge problems.

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15

Implementing our own bridge maintenance team may save us a lot of money versus always putting projects out to bid for maintenance and light rehabilitation work.

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16

The idea of creating a formal Preservation program, with possible support from the Federal level to be implemented by in-house forces.

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17

Importance of implementing preservation strategies for bridges to extended their lives and provide relief to the looming inventory of bridge replacements that will be coming due over the next 10 years.

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18

We need to be conscious of the target audience when selling preservation needs. The KISS approach that Dave Eixenberger mentioned is on track. We have so much data at times, it can be overwhelming.

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19

Keep water of the bridge deck, keep joints clean, work with environmental section. technology transfer is very important so that we do not make the same mistakes made by others (learn from mistakes made)

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20

That preservation should not be tied to condition ratings.

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21

Performance Measures - The workshop reinforced the importance of having performance measures to track work and show the effectiveness of bridge preservation.

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22

We will not be able to build our way out of the number of structurally deficient bridges in our inventory. The maintenance we do at this time is done after the problem is identified. Preventive maintenance is something that will more than pay for itself, but it will take a long term perspective to place money into bridges that are in satisfactory condition.

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23

The most important message I got is by developing many contacts regarding the issues of bridge preservation topics most likely I will use in future jobs.

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24

20 states are now using HBP for preventive maintenance. Weekend overlays were brought up and could be used here.

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25

As a manufacturer of preservation products, it is important to make product info available to the Bridge Maintenance Engineers.

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26

Some of the Pontis reporting that is being done may help us identify and support program needs. We hope to improve that process in the next year.

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27

That we are doing the right strategies at the right time. We just need to document better what we are doing and when - for succession planning.

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28

I work in research at a university. I am discussing opportunities for us to provide preservation research with our primary customer-the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

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29

I will be working with others on a national level to define the road map to bridge preservation implementation. Learned about issues/practices impacting other states. This was a good reality check and helped shape my thinking.

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30

Discussions on expansion joints repair, deck preservation and funding were very beneficial.

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31

I shared my experience with my engineers and explained the concept of Bridge Preservation. They were all eager to hear about the practices different states have evolved.

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32

When you are trying to establish a system wide analysis for budgeting purposes, it is best to keep it simple and that project selection is a whole different exercise.

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33

Strategies for securing funding.

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34

Lack of a uniform definition for bridge preservation. Why is this?

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35

Some State stated that they don't pursue Federal funds for bridge preservation because the financial return is not worth the paperwork. We need to consider if we want to pursue Federal funds for our bridge preservation work if the paperwork is a burden.

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36

The two multi-state panel sessions that I attended were probably some of the best I've been involved with. I especially liked the way each of the panel states shared their programs and experiences and then allowed the audience to ask questions or exchange relevant information. A lot of my customers (states) appear to have come away with the satisfaction of contributing as well as gaining information that they'll use.

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37

Putting together and implementing a good flushing strategy for our bridges and a time-based sealer program.

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38

That everybody has problems with deck joints. Florida should investigate the value of periodically cleaning non compressible out of joints to see if that would prolong joint life and be economical over the life cycle.

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39

Communication. Talk to other states and see what is working for them. Don't reinvent the wheel.

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40

Different types of joint repair.

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41

Keeping bare concrete decks - no overlays

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42

Any time we can sit together to share ideas/concerns/experiences, it allows us to recognize that we're not in it alone. This conference allowed us to see that we are doing very well with our program and have some benefits that other States do not. With FHWA urging States to consider funding types of system preservation projects that in the past were not funded, hopefully MdSHA will pursue this.

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43

We will be re-evaluating our position on using HBP for PM.

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44

A road map for bridge preservation - define bridge preservation, set goals, monitor progress.

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45

Possible strategies to assist with implementing a BMS and gaining upper management support.

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46

Also, after hearing about other states' preservation practices it appears that Alaska is right in the middle when compared to other states. We do some things well and in other areas there is room for improvement.

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47

Look into deck sealing, even on new bridge, as a preservation activity.

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48

Like MO, consider contracting out to maintain bridges and elements above a designated rating.

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49

The spotlight is on bridge preservation - service life extension. An area in which the bridge maintenance engineer has been working often independently from the rest of the department. Now is the time to share information.

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50

Discussion with other owners and vendors are invaluable.

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51

Under Session 4 - Selling Bridge Preservation to upper Management: David Eixenberger's presentation about keeping it simple.

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52

Learning the different stages the various DOT's around the country are at, for the many items discussed.

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53

That VTrans needs to initiate and fund a systematic bridge preservation program. Like many other states our bridge maintenance is reactive, and that has to change.

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54

Trying new products and giving products that "someone" said did not work in the past a second try. Some products, such as bridge joints and bridge deck patching materials fail due to poor workmanship or improper installation procedures. These "failures" are remembered for many years and sometimes inhibit any future use.

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55

Other states are going ahead with this preventive maintenance proposal. Too many states are still deferring maintenance.

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56

Preserve good bridges.

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57

The need to work with other states and agencies to share information. To preserve is cheaper than replacing.

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58

Bridges in the USA have been neglected, yet there are many talented engineers who are working to change this. Some of the engineers even have a sense of humor about it, and that makes dealing with the difficulties more fun. I'd like to have a more of sense of humor, although I recognize that this will be next to impossible.

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59

I feel that the most important message that I will take back to discuss with staff and/or associates is the number of contacts that I made with other states in order to share bridge preservation strategies. These contacts will no doubt become very useful when I encounter bridge preservation issues that other states have experience and expertise in addressing.

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60

Let our bosses, coworkers, and politician know the great importance of practicing the Bridge Preservation and Bridge Preventive maintenance. So far we have been practicing reactive bridge maintenance, by fixing and repairing anomalies and degradation of our bridges as events occur. We need to develop a Bridge Preventive Program for the next 10 to 20 years that involves two parts: Part 1, composed of routine maintenance such as deck cleaning, scuppers cleaning, structural steel members washing at every 1 or 2 years; and Part 2, composed of set of tasks to prevent bridges from deteriorating such deck sealing, deck resurfacing, repairs and replacing joints, cleaning and lubricating bearings, bridge painting and other similar tasks at every 5 or 10 years.

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61

Use of specific preservation practices in other states.

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62

Need to set up $$$ earmarked for Preservation. Presently amount earmarked is $2M, not nearly enough.

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63

What bridge deck coatings are working for other states.

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64

The use of plug joints on bridges. What is working and where.

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65

Cost analysis of how much bridge preservation is saving the State of Florida per year.

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66

Effective applications of FRP. What environments it hasn't been effective.

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67

Current funding falls far short of bridge replacement and bridge preservation needs. Competition for the funding that is available is getting more active and organized. Bridge preservation organizations must work ever harder to define and justify the bridge needs in order to compete effectively.

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68

Lists of other states for future contacts regarding their best practices and current procedures/experiences.

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69

Everyone has the same issue. some are taking the same action, some are doing other things. there is no focus beyond reactionary issues.

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70

We must sell the idea of implementing actual bridge preservation to our individual State's Executive Staff. The necessary money to properly maintain our system is not available now and doesn't look promising in the near future. Preserving what we have now is the only answer. Pushing forward now can only help when completing for funding with pavements, signing and other interest groups.

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71

Many states face the same funding challenges as we do in Vermont however we are not alone in trying to bring the importance of bridge maintenance and preservation to the public's attention. At one-tenth the cost of a replacement project, systematic bridge preservation and maintenance is extremely cost effective.

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72

The importance of networking and sharing preservation strategies with other states. Hopefully, our state's Bridge maintenance crew will get involved with a Bridge work group to learn from what others are doing.

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73

I am extremely exited about FHWA taking the lead in preserving the infrastructure and gathering all the state maintenance folks in one place. The multi-state panel discussions were extremely valuable in that it allowed us to exchange information regarding what rehabilitation strategies are in use in different states and why.

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74

Ways discussed and implemented to improve drainage and channel clearance issues to better preserve the bridge elements.

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75

What other states are doing to address similar problems to ours.

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76

Improving prioritization by utilizing BMS data better.

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77

Ideas for improving our bridge system performance measures.

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78

As a manufacturer of products used on bridge decks, I came away with the knowledge that we need to do a better job of discovering the problems and issues facing DOT's and then developing new products that meet those needs.

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79

Joint repair tactics.

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80

I was amazed at how different the system preservations programs are in the different States. Also, a lot of the States consider ordinary/repair maintenance activities as being preventive maintenance activities. Some States are further along in their system preservation practices. Based on the workshop, there is a strong need to promote having a strong proactive maintenance program versus doing all reactive maintenance and rehabilitation or replacement of structures. States need to have more of a balance between preventive maintenance, reactive/repair or ordinary maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement as Steve Gaj indicated in his talk.

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81

Strategies other states have for sealing decks.

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82

Find out here is our money for bridge preservation.

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83

Simplify strategies. Preserve fair condition.

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84

It is useful to develop measurable statistics to validate preservation needs and effective preservation practices.

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85

All states in similar geographic or similar climates face the same problems. The methods that we choose for preservation vary greatly. All of these states feel that what they are doing is the correct course of action with the limited funding that they have. However, there is a tremendous amount of information and actions that we can learn from each other.

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86

We need to improve our bridge management system for better use as a tool to show upper management what our needs are.

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87

I'm hoping to convince Senior staff for more man power and fund to preserve the structures.

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88

This was, without a doubt, the most productive conference I've ever attended. All of the attendees we spoke to were very interested in talking through issues and concerns. That for us was the most valuable part. The conversations outside of the presentations. The quality of content was high and I think that might have spurred such productive conversations. Lesson learned... I don't know if I could narrow it down. We're still going over notes. Thanks,

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89

Keep practicing what we have been doing. We have been performing preservation work for over 30 years and everything we heard at this conference supports that. We can assure our management that our efforts are worth the investment. We made some contacts with personnel from other DOT's that may have more experience in areas we may be struggling with and/or are not familiar with that will be good resources in the future.

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90

I represented our Bridge Design Office and attended with our Bridge Maintenance Engineer. This was valuable for both of us to listen, learn and share with the other states. We both questioned our treatment of bridge decks during/after construction. It was useful to learn more about the current bridge program.

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91

Strategies for selling preservation to Sr. Management

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92

Sealing deck strategies.

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93

Learned a lot about bridge funding issues and the philosophy of selling bridge preservation to upper management.

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94

How other states are implementing preventative maintenance policy.

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95

The ways in which other states have responded to the challenges of bridge preservation (i.e. staffing levels, position descriptions, handling of workload, etc.)

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96

There aren't just 50 ways to program bridges, but at least 500 different ways! Each State has a average of 10 Districts and each District programs bridges to meet the demands of their locality.

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97

Polymer Modified Overlays show great promise in waterproofing.

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98

Need to sell the program. Other states have similar issues.

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99

That so many other states are going further than KY in finding new strategies for preservation, in hopes to get a more comprehensive SCHEDULED preservation plan implemented.

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100

Put Bridge Preservation plan in place

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37

17

3

2

14

3

14

39

132

100 Lessons Learned

28%

13%

2%

11%

2%

11%

30%

100%

Bridge Preservation & Asset Mgmt

Decks and Joints

Superstructures

Substructures

Selection of Preservation Strategies & Preservation Actions

Performance of Preservation Strategies & Preservation Actions

Definitions

Funding ($)

BPAM Roadmap

National Bridge Preservation Workshop Evaluation Comments

Contact