Superstructure Lifecycle Cost Determination: Best Practices and Guidelines

The selection of superstructure type during the study phase of a design project is currently made based on the estimated construction cost and a subjective and inexact assessment of the life cycle cost of the structure. This method of selecting the preferred alternative has led to the introduction of bias into the decision-making process and tends to lead to the selection of concrete superstructures more often than steel superstructures. Rarely is this decision tied to objective data based on historic maintenance records of similar superstructures and has never accounted for Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT’s) ability to extend the life of steel superstructures by incorporating bolted and welded repairs, which are not possible on concrete superstructures. Disregarding this information in the selection of a superstructure type increases the risk of not using the available bridge funding as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Programmed
• Sponsor Organizations:

  Michigan Department of Transportation

  Van Wagoner Building
  425 W. Ottawa Street
  Lansing, MI  United States  48909
• Start Date: 20260101
• Expected Completion Date: 20271031
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Best practices; Bridge design; Bridge superstructures; Life cycle costing
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01957532
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Michigan Department of Transportation
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 9 2025 1:48PM