|
Home
Page
.
About NCBC
.
Bridge Types
.
Concrete
Advantage
.
High Performance Concrete
.
Concrete Bridge Conference
.
NBI
NBI
.
Software
.
Publications
.
Calendar of
Events
.
Join
Mailing List
.
Contact
NCBC
.
NATIONAL CONCRETE
BRIDGE COUNCIL
c/o Portland Cement Association
5420 Old Orchard Rd.
Skokie, IL 60077
Ph: 847.966.6200
Fax: 847.966.9781
Email:
ncbc@cement.org
|
|
There are over 475,000 bridges in the U.S. today. Concrete bridges consistently outperform bridges made from other materials by a wide margin. Analysis of National Bridge Inventory data for structures built since 1950 shows that 17 percent of steel bridges in the U.S. are considered "structurally deficient," while for reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete, the percentages are only 7 percent and 4 percent, respectively.
Since the early 1950's when prestressed concrete for bridge construction was introduced, its use has steadily increased. More than 70 percent of the bridges built today are made of concrete.
Concrete offers the owner, engineer, and contractor many advantages over other materials. From durability and versatility to beauty and economy, concrete is the material of choice for superior structures.
- Cost-savings
-- From reduced initial construction costs to lower maintenance costs, structures built with concrete are economical.
- Durability
-- Bridges built with high performance concrete (HPC) can have a service life of 100 years. They easily withstand extreme temperature changes and corrosive chemicals in a variety of conditions.
- Competitiveness
-- the value of concrete is repeatedly recognized in competitive bidding situations.
- Aesthetics
-- Dynamic, graceful, long-span bridges often become symbols of a city's hope for the future, even a tourist attraction, and, ultimately, encourage economic development.
|
