A study of performance measures for bridge preservation is presented. The performance
measures use National Bridge Inventory general condition ratings, element-level condition
states, and average costs to identify which bridges to preserve, determine the annual need
for preservation work and resources, and quantify the impacts of preservation programs on
bridge conditions and program costs. The proposed measures of performance for bridge
preservation are demonstrated for the inventory of state-owned bridges in Colorado.

Measures of performance of highway bridges with element-level data are proposed.
Element-level measures focus on the preservation of deck, superstructure, and substructure
elements. Element-level measures recognize relationships between bridge elements.
Bridge elements (eg, joints, wearing surfaces, coatings) affect the exposure of deck,
superstructure, and substructure. Poor conditions of these elements put decks,
superstructures, and substructures at risk. Risk also is increased when actions for …