Bridges Consumption Analysis for Oversize and Overweight Vehicles on Texas Roads

Abstract

Transportation infrastructure in Texas, U.S., particularly its extensive bridge network, plays a vital role in supporting economic growth and ensuring safe and efficient mobility. With over 57,000 bridges, including more than 22,000 culverts, Texas faces the challenge of maintaining its infrastructure while dealing with limited funding resources. This paper presents the findings of a study conducted for the Texas Department of Transportation that focused on assessing the costs associated with bridge consumption by oversize and overweight (OS/OW) vehicles. The study aimed to calculate bridge consumption costs per mile for different OS/OW categories, considering factors such as axle load, spacing, bridge design life, and vehicle miles traveled (VMT). These consumption costs were calculated by analyzing traffic data and bridge inventory ratings. The results showed that, although OS/OW vehicles are responsible for the majority of the bridge consumption costs per mile, their lower VMT, relative to regular commercial vehicles, mitigates their influence on total bridge consumption costs to less than 15% of the total. The findings of this study can contribute to the ongoing efforts of transportation engineers and policymakers in addressing funding deficits and developing strategies to sustain the state’s bridge infrastructure.