Recent Highway Bridge Collapses in China: Review and Discussion

Abstract

The data of 302 highway bridge catastrophic collapses occurring in China between 2000 and 2014 due to human causes were collected and statistical analyses were conducted from various viewpoints including accident stages (during construction or service), casualties (death or injury), location, time, life span, bridge type, and primary causes behind the accidents. Six representative collapse cases were expounded on to find out their individual peculiarities. These cases encapsulated serious problems in Chinese highway bridge engineering, including design, construction, maintenance, and management, among others. A concise review of highway bridge collapses due to human causes in China was presented. Some typical abnormal phenomena, such as those concerning entities involved in the Chinese highway bridge engineering industry, were analyzed and highlighted. Suggestions were put forward to urge all related parties to obey rules and laws to reduce and avoid bridge collapse accidents. The lessons from these bridge accidents should be fully studied to further ensure the safety, durability, and economy of bridges. This study provides a comprehensive reference of the current situation regarding highway bridge collapses in China, which is also useful for ringing the alarm bell to alert bridge owners, designers, constructors, supervisors, researchers, and maintenance crews of potential dangers.