Many Florida bridges are built of steel-reinforced concrete. Florida’s humid and marine environments subject steel in these structures to corrosion once water and salt penetrate the concrete and contact the steel. Corroded steel takes up more space than the original steel, resulting in cracked and spalling concrete which further exposes the steel, and requires expensive repairs and corrosion control techniques. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has responded with corrosion prevention practices, such as very low permeability concrete and increased concrete cover thickness over reinforcing steel. This increases initial cost but saves money over time, since the bridge’s service life is significantly extended. So, it is important to understand how a specific design can increase service life for the specific environment in which the bridge will be built.

US Transportation Collection