Research Solutions - Exploring standard plans for short-span concrete slab bridges for Iowa counties - TR-812

Faced with thousands of aging short-span bridges that will eventually need to be replaced, Iowa bridge engineers seek efficient and cost-effective solutions. To avoid excessive stream disturbance, Iowa DOT recognized short-span concrete slab bridges as a potential alternative to concrete box culverts and box beam bridges. Though the agency has standard plans for three-span concrete bridges, none existed for single-span bridges. Understanding needs, characteristics, and costs of building concrete slab bridges was an important step for the development of standard bridge design plans