Experiences and Results in Hungarian Bridge Management

Abstract

After having introduced briefly the background of Hungarian bridge management bridge management, some bridge management experiences and results are outlined.
The major results of medium-term bridge maintenance and improvement programme (1992-2000) and PONTIS-H bridge management system (since 1996):
• creation a data base for the Hungarian national highway bridge stock comprising complex technical and economic data;
• complex technical-economic analysis of the bridges to be maintained and improved;
• revealing the character of bridge deterioration process based on the actual data of bridge stock (quasi time series): the long-term steady state with min. cost need can be attained after 20-25 years;
• the crucial bridge structural elements and maintenance interventions from the viewpoint of cost-effectiveness were unanimously identified:
o the bridge structural elements (main beams, insulation, bridge surfacing, curbs and footpaths) with highest cost need necessitate nearly 2/3 of the expected expenditures;
o the four interventions (insulation replacement, steel surface painting, asphalt surfacing production, repair-protection of concrete surface) with highest cost need cover more than 50% of expected costs;
• based on the sensitivity analysis of network-level strategies it can be shown the cost need and the backlog of the bridge stock, using yearly 3.1 billion HUF for bridge maintenance, their constant condition state can be attained.
The results contribute to the obtaining of necessary funds and the most effective distribution and use of the resources acquired, as well as the more effective interest forcing ability in economic-political decision making.