Bridges

In the last 7 years, the Department of Transport (DoT) has seen a significant increase in demand for heavy vehicles accessing the stateís road network and subsequent permit requests requiring structural assessments. Stimulated by Victoriaís Big Build and Clean Energy Future, Class 1 oversize overmass (OSOM) vehicles deliver critical components for major projects including concrete prefabrications, steel girders, wind turbines, and superconductors. Accurate structural assessments are essential for managing the structural risk that these large indivisible loads pose on the ageing bridge stock. Given conventional desktop assessments are inherently conservative, an advanced measure is desired to assist in route access decisions for Class 1 OSOM vehicles. This work details how a framework combining accurate bridge capacity quantification, measured data from structural health monitoring (SHM), and state-of-the-art structural reliability methods can provide such a measure. Specifically, the work presents how the framework has been applied in practice, assuring and ensuring the heavy loads could safely travel and provide the successfully efficient delivery of project critical components. This practical application highlights potential benefits both nationally and internationally in the rational decision-making on access for all heavy vehicle classes.