Effects of increasing design traffic load on performance and life-cycle cost of bridges

Due to the onerous and expensive nature of preventative and essential maintenance of existing bridge infrastructure, it is prudent to look into methods of improving life-cycle safety and cost of newly constructed bridges at the design phase. In an effort to achieve economy in material quantities and initial cost, the structural capacity of these bridges is often at the required minimum target level. This paper investigates the effects that increased design traffic loading have on the initial construction cost and whether that could be balanced by a reduced requirement for financial intervention in the mid to later stages of the bridge’s design-life. This is achieved by conducting a life-cycle performance and cost assessment on a reinforced concrete slab bridge that is designed to increasing standard traffic loads.