BACKGROUND: Extreme events resulting from natural or other disasters, such as fire, flood, earthquakes, tornados, and hurricanes, can cause damage to bridge structures that impacts the safety of motorists and the public.  There is a need to employ procedures for response planning, assessment, and rapid restoration of service of these structures that will maintain safety; some state departments of transportation (state DOTs) have adopted such processes.  However, these processes may not always address the full range of needs for personnel, communication, coordination, data collection, assessment levels, and other factors associated with the different types and extents of these events.  Research was needed to identify or develop rational procedures for response planning, assessment, and rapid restoration of service of bridge structures in extreme events and prepare related guidelines; thse will be provided to the the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) for considertion. Such guidelines would help state DOTs as well as other transportation agencies deal more effectively with the damage to bridge structures in extreme events and provide a safer condition for the public. 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to develop guidelines for response planning, assessment, and rapid restoration of service of bridges in extreme events.

STATUS: Research is complete. The research prepared (1) guidelines for response planning, assessment, and rapid restoration of service of bridges in extreme events, (2) a research overview report, and (3) a tool and a user manual. The guidelines will published as NCHRP Research Report 1098, the research overview report will be available as NCHRP Web Only Document 390, and the tool and user manual will be available on the research report web page.