The objective of this project was to perform a complete revision and updating for the AASHTO Manual for Maintenance Inspection of Bridges. The existing manual was initially published by AASHTO in 1970, and since that time only minor changes and additions were made to it. At the request of AASHTO, this project was initiated in order to incorporate current practices in bridge design, construction, inspection, and analytical and physical methods for load capacity evaluation and rating.

The project was completed in mid-1992 and a new manual was submitted for consideration by AASHTO. The new manual, titled Manual for Condition Evaluation of Bridges, was published by AASHTO in 1994.