Design of Modern Steel Railway bridges

It is estimated that, in terms of length, just over 50% of the approximately 80,000

bridges in the North American freight railroad bridge inventory have steel superstructures.

These bridges are critical components of the railroad infrastructure and,

therefore, essential elements of an effective and competitive national transportation

system. Many of these railway bridges are over 80 years old





and have experienced

substantial increases in both the magnitude and frequency of freight railroad live load.

The assessment (inspection, condition rating, strength rating, and fatigue life cycle

analysis), maintenance (repair and retrofitting), and rehabilitation (strengthening) of

existing railway bridges are fundamental aspects of a sustainable, safe, and reliable

national railroad transportation infrastructure. However, in many cases, due to functional

and/or structural obsolescence (age [fatigue], condition, and/or strength), the

replacement of steel railway superstructures is required.



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