The Economical and Environmental Impact of Bridge Management

Abstract

Sustainable mobility is a major global challenge that affects the future of humanity and the planet. Economic growth depends on high levels of motorization, which produce greenhouse gases and other pollutants from vehicle emissions. These emissions harm the environment and human health. To address this challenge, we need to optimize traffic flow on busy roads and work zones, and consider the environmental and economic impacts of different bridge designs.In this paper, we present a methodology to quantify and optimize the total costs and vehicle emissions for various concrete bridge solutions. We apply this methodology to a real bridge on the A25 highway in Portugal, which connects Aveiro to Vilar Formoso crossing Portugal from the Spanish border to the sea. It compares different construction materials in terms of their deterioration rate, lifetime, and environmental and economic effects, to support decision making.