Abstract: HIGHWAY BRIDGES—A MAJOR PROBLEM J. R. Burkey, Chief Engineer of Bridges, Ohio State Highway Department, Columbus, Ohio Assuming that highway bridges are a major problem, our first obligation is to have all the information possible. For fifteen years our department operated co-operatively with counties in a relationship which made the state responsible for maintenance of only those structures or portions of high way which the state had built. All other structures and por tions of highway had remained the obligation of the respective counties. In 1928 the department became responsible for all highways and appurtenances thereto on the state highway system outside municipalities. We had no detailed informa tion as to thousands of structures which were suddenly in herited by legislative act. We set about making a detailed in ventory of all structures on the state highway system and compiling this information in visible record form so that not only the details of each structure were available but that there was immediately available at a glance the service which each structure could render or fail to render as a part of a highway transport system. This record is developed in dupli cate, one copy being kept in our central office, covering the entire state, the other, for the structures on the highways under the jurisdiction of the respective divisions, being kept in the division offices throughout the state. On the 12,200 miles of state highways there are 7,405 bridges with a span of more than 10 feet, and approximately 68,000 culverts. The cost of the survey, the equipment, and the clerical work involved in its installation was approximately $40,000. Now that the record is available we wonder how we ever got along without it. Its principal uses are for (1 ) in telligent programming of structures for reconstruction or re conditioning; (2 ) the basis of factual discussions with delega tions visiting the department in behalf of certain projects; (3) knowledge at a glance of structural restrictions on trans port on any given highway route; (4) the granting or denial of permits for the movement of unusually heavy loads over the highways; (5) a framework on which to hang the in spection and maintenance of structures; (6) intangible bene fits by way of improved morale with the knowledge that we are no longer working blindly with problems that are so serious in their nature.
Publication Year: 1937
Publication Date: 1937-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot