Value Engineering Approach to Low‐Volume Road Bridge Selection

Abstract

Most of the badly deteriorated bridges in the United States are those built prior to the 1950s, and many of these are on low‐volume roads where they receive little attention. This paper deals with the use of value engineering principles to study the economics of various low‐volume bridge systems along with miscellaneous bridge components so that potential savings through proper choices of innovative bridge systems can lead to better utilization of the funds available. Value engineering principles such as functional analysis and fast diagramming, value analysis and innovation/evaluation techniques have been used to develop and evaluate different design scenarios. The optimal designs derived through this study are of generic nature. Certain geographical factors or other concerns depending on site locations have to be incorporated in the value analysis before the final selection of a bridge system. Specifically, the value engineering analysis revealed that initial material cost, maintenance aspects, durability, service life, availability of components, and ease of erection have turned out to be the most important items in the selection of a low‐volume road bridge.