What Causes Bridges To Collapse?

No one likes to think about the worst happening when they travel over a bridge; but unfortunately, freak accidents do happen. When tragedy strikes and a bridge collapses, one of the main questions people will likely ask is ‘why?.

According to Biezma and Schanack, 2007, the most common causes of bridge failure are structural and design deficiencies, corrosion, construction and supervision mistakes, accidental overload and impact, scour, and lack of maintenance or inspection.

We’ll investigate what causes bridges to collapse, as well as any preventative measures that can be put in place to prevent such a disaster.

Structural Failures

Whether due to a lack of appropriate structural support such as bridge bearings or bridge expansion joints, sometimes structural failures are the main cause of a bridge collapse. 

For example, the Great Yarmouth bridge collapse in 1845, unfortunately, saw 79 people, including 59 children killed as a result of an imperfectly welded joint.

Design Failures

Sometimes, bridges are destined to fail before they’re even built. Ultimately, if the overall design of a bridge is wrong, say if inadequate support is factored in or the measurements of key elements are inaccurate, then this can lead to a bridge collapsing.

Natural Disasters

Unfortunately, many natural disasters are inevitable; horrific events such as floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes can all wreak havoc on even the most stable of bridges.

For example, in 2018, Morandi Bridge in Genoa, Italy collapsed after cables in the bridge’s southern stays snapped during a heavy summer downpour, causing sections of its western side to break apart.

Fire

According to Arnold & Itkin, bridges most susceptible to collapse because of fire are those that carry trains, given the combustible materials used to power them. Several modern bridges have collapsed or been severely damaged due to fire.

Therefore, even extremely structurally sound bridges can be devastated by the impact of a blaze, through no fault of the designer or manufacturer.

Lack Of Maintenance Or Inspection

One of the main causes of bridge collapses is a lack of proper maintenance or inspection as warning signs of an imminent collapse can often be missed. 

At Route One Infrastructure, we pride ourselves on being a trusted bridges and structures maintenance, inspection, and refurbishment contractor, focusing on structural protection and movement control services.

If you’d like to find out more about our services, contact us today to speak with our friendly team.