Bridge maintenance management

Efficient strategies to ensure bridge integrity

The public sector is currently facing the challenge of tackling a refurbishment backlog in transport infrastructure, and doing this in a cost-efficient and climate-friendly manner. The reliability and availability of roads, and especially bridges, are crucial to Germany’s future viability and competitiveness. Aging and damaged bridges not only pose a safety risk, but also place a massive burden on public-sector budgets and human resources.

Our approach to a solution

Drees & Sommer has the right expertise and many years of practical experience in structural engineering to reliably detect damage to bridges and identify any associated problems. Our bridge maintenance management is based on three key approaches: sustainable refurbishment projects with a minimized carbon footprint, professional contract management, including alternative implementation models, and the development of a robust maintenance strategy.

Our experts at your side will first cluster and analyze your bridge portfolio. Based on that work, they will gather all the relevant data they need in order to come up with a suitable maintenance strategy. We offer you a tailored solution, from the initial baseline assessment through to the creation of a central maintenance strategy for your bridge structures:

Analysis of the as-built documentation and structural information

Formulation of the approach and objectives

Software-based calculation of the condition of the entire structure

Determination and forecast of the necessary investment requirements

Development and formulation of a suitable maintenance strategy

Documentation and reporting of the implemented measures

Step 1: Determining the basics

First, we determine the current state of your bridges. This involves ascertaining the condition of each structure and any existing maintenance backlog. Based on this, we work out substance forecasts, necessary maintenance resources, and more.

Step 2: Deriving a maintenance strategy

Based on the results of the first step, we derive a maintenance strategy tailored to the customer. A strategically designed maintenance management plan enables operators and funding bodies to ensure the long-term safety and functionality of the bridge infrastructure. Within this framework, our experts prioritize urgent maintenance measures, develop a realistic schedule and support clients in decision-making.