Technical Exchange Page

This page has been designed for the posting and exchange of technical documents specifically related to Bridge Preservation.  Entries will be listed in the order that they are posted and filed in their appropriate categories on the TSP2 Web-Site.  Postings can be made by State Agencies, FHWA, and other approved organizations.

This site will be used to post new technologies and practices that are presented at Partnership Meetings and during Monthly Regional Partnership calls.


PennDOT’s Bridge Preservation Programs & Best Practices

Scott Snyder, PennDOT’s Bridge Maintenance Quality Assurance Manager has prepared a 26-slide presentation outlining his agency’s bridge preservation best practices. The slides contain photographs illustrating various conditions, treatments, and techniques.

Download the Presentation (.pdf)


New FHWA LTBP Bridge Portal

The FHWA LTBP Bridge Portal is the new bridge analysis site, with improved performance and experience. The site features regular and advanced searches to find the information you need.


Bridge Substructure Repair: Evaluation of Electro-chemical Chloride Extraction (ECE), Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP), and Sealers for Corrosion Mitigation in Reinforced Concrete Bridges

Attached is the 24-slide presentation made by Paul Pilarski, MNDOT’s Metro North Region Bridge Construction Engineer on 7th January 2020 at a meeting of the Midwest Bridge Preservation Partnership.

Download the Presentation


National Cooperative Highway Research Program Project NCHRP 14-36 Proposed AASHTO Guide for Bridge Preservation Actions [2019-02-14]

This PowerPoint presentation was given by George Hearn, University of Colorado, in January 2019 at the Transportation Research Board Meeting, Washington, D.C.

Download the Power Point Presentation


Bridge Preservation BMS National Working Group – Attachment A [2018-10-22]

Attachment A provides a Detailed Work Scope by Bridge Management System (BMS) Advancement Tier.

Download Attachment A as a (.pdf) file.


Rapid Concrete Bridge Deck Overlays [2018-10-09]

Michael M. Sprinkel, P.E., Associate Director of the Virginia Transportation Research Council has produced a 29-slide Power Point presentation on concrete bridge overlays. The presentation describes Virginia’s experience with the use of three types of overlay:

  1. LMC (Latex Modified Concrete)
  2. LMC-VE (Latex Modified Concrete with very early hardening cement)
  3. SF (7% Silica Fume concrete)

When overlays were placed on bridges where lane closures would cause major traffic congestion, LMC-VE overlays were found to be the most cost effective.

Download the Power Point Presentation


Corrosion Control Using Galvanic Cathodic Protection

This report from the New York State Department of Transportation provides application information, design examples, and reference tables for the use of galvanic cathodic protection systems for in-service reinforced concrete structures.

Download the Full Report (.pdf)


Bridge Preservation Guide

State departments of transportation (DOTs), local agencies, and other bridge owners face significant challenges in addressing the needs of their aging infrastructure. Due to limited funds and increased competition for funds among highway assets, bridge owners are challenged to cost effectively preserve and maintain their bridges to support overall highway mobility. However, having a “worst-first” approach to bridge management by focusing only on replacing poor bridges while ignoring the maintenance needs of good and fair bridges is inefficient and cost-prohibitive in the long term.
A successful bridge program seeks a balanced approach to preservation and rehabilitation/replacement. Bridge owners are striving to be more strategic by adopting and implementing systematic processes for bridge preservation as an integral component of their overall asset management.

Download the FHWA Bridge Preservation Guide (.pdf)


Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (SUAVs) for Structural Inspection

The Florida DOT and University of Florida have collaborated on a research project to demonstrate the use of small unmanned aerial vehicles (SUAVs) (drones), for structural inspection of bridges and high mast light poles.

Read the One-page Summary (.pdf)

Read the Project Report (.pdf)


Thin-Polymer Bridge Deck Overlay System Pocket Guide [2018-10-24]

The contents of this guide on Thin-Polymer Bridge Deck Overlay Systems reflect the views of the Bridge Preservation Expert Task Group, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official view or policies of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The content does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. FHWA does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of this report.

Download the Report (.pdf)


NCHRP Research Update – Bridge Preservation and Maintenance

The attached Power Point Update of NCHRP Bridge Preservation and Maintenance Research has been prepared by J.L. Milton, Bridge Preservation Specialist, Virginia Department of Transportation.

Download the Update (.pptx)


NCHRP Research Process

The attached Power Point Summary of the NCHRP Research Process has been prepared by J.L. Milton, Bridge Preservation Specialist, Virginia Department of Transportation.

Download the Summary (.pptx)



VDOT’s Laser Coating Removal Research [2018-11-13]

The Virginia Department of Transportation is conducting research investigating the efficacy of using high-wattage lasers for removing coatings from existing bridges. High-wattage, hand-held lasers are now commercially available at costs that have increased their potential value for use in removing coatings on bridges. The objective of this project is to determine the feasibility of using high-wattage lasers to remove coatings from VDOT bridges.

Download VDOT Laser Coating Removal Research Document (Revised) (.pdf)


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