I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1682 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 24, 2009 Mr. Conaway (for himself and Ms. Sutton) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To amend title 23, United States Code, to require States to develop and implement highway bridge management systems.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Bridge Life Extension Act of 2009.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)Corrosion of highway bridges costs the United States economy $8.3 billion each year according to a Federal Highway Administration report (FHWA–RD–01–157) that was delivered to Congress in 2002. (2)The ongoing cost of corrosion on United States highway bridges represents a needless waste of taxpayer dollars. (3)One-third of the ongoing cost of corrosion on United States highway bridges would be saved if existing, fully developed corrosion prevention technologies were applied to bridge decks and their substructures. (4)The application of corrosion technologies to United States highway bridges is necessary, but currently underused. (5) The application of corrosion prevention strategies should be required in the design and rehabilitation of bridge structures that use Federal funding and the development of new corrosion prevention technologies should be encouraged.

3.

Highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program

Section 144(d) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (5)

Requirements for State participation

(A)

Implementation of highway bridge management systems

As a condition for providing assistance to a State under this section, the Secretary shall require the State to develop and implement a highway bridge management system that meets the requirements of section 303. (B)

Applicability to new and existing bridges

A highway bridge management system under subparagraph (A) shall apply to design and construction of new bridges and maintenance of existing bridges. (C)

Preservation of structures

In developing and implementing a highway bridge management system under subparagraph (A), a State shall— (i)identify corrosion mitigation and prevention methods that will be used to preserve the highway bridges in the State, taking into account— (I)material selection; (II)coating considerations; (III)cathodic protection considerations; (IV)design considerations for corrosion; and (V)concrete requirements; (ii)establish a project maintenance program for highway bridges in the State for the purpose of extending the life of each highway bridge; (iii)ensure that all highway bridge designers, inspectors, and maintenance individuals implementing the system are trained and certified in corrosion mitigation and prevention techniques; and (iv)research current inspection technologies and techniques for highway bridges. (D)

Consultation

A State shall carry out the requirements of this paragraph in consultation with engineers and other experts specializing in corrosion mitigation and prevention methods. .