Missouri Seismic Safety Commission - Strategy 2.6

STRATEGY:

Accelerate the program to assess, retrofit and/or replace bridges that do not meet current earthquake design standards

ACTION:

Assess, retrofit, and/or replace bridges in a more timely manner.

RESULT:

Reduced risk of collapse or severe damage to highway bridges. Bridges that are at risk of failure or damage will be retrofitted or replaced in a timely manner, which will facilitate response and recovery.


Background

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) performed an initial assessment of bridge earthquake vulnerability in Missouri in 1990. The task force identified priority routes in the high risk areas in the southeastern part of the state. Approximately 633 bridges were identified with an estimated cost of $70 million for retrofitting. The Task Force recommended that a 10-year program be established to retrofit these bridges and that the legislature fund this work separately from the normal highway program. Some retrofit projects have been undertaken, but the number of bridges handled so far (in 1996) is small.

Implementation

The legislature needs to authorize a long-term (10-year) program for retrofitting high risk bridges and provide the necessary funding. This program should include a bridge ranking system that prioritizes the structures so that the more critical bridges are retrofitted first.

MoDOT should request funds from the re-authorization of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) that were specifically allocated for retrofitting bridges.

Responsible Agencies:


Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)

Last Changed April 28, 1997