CALIFORNIA BRIDGE HEALTH INDEX: A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL TO MAXIMIZE BRIDGE LONGEVITY, INVESTMENT

Abstract

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is responsible for 12,656 bridges with an estimated asset value of more than $35 billion. To manage the work performed on this vast inventory, Caltrans has developed a versatile diagnostic tool, the California Bridge Health Index. The Health Index is a single-number assessment of a bridge's condition based on the bridge's economic worth, determined from an element-level inspection. The index makes it possible to ascertain the structural quality of a single bridge or a network of bridges and to make objective comparisons with other bridges or networks. Caltrans has discovered many management applications for the Bridge Health Index, including performance measurement, resource allocation, budget management, and choosing the best option for a bridge's preservation. Further discussion in this article addresses in more detail how and why the Health Index was developed and how Caltrans has applied the rating system.