A plan for assessing the damage to highway bridges after an earthquake

A post-earthquake response plan and bridge inspection guidelines were developed under a research project funded by the New York State Department of Transportation. The Earthquake Response Plan consists of four levels of response, delineated by ranges of earthquake magnitude. A phased approach was used, first mobilizing maintenance workers familiar with the road network to provide a quick initial assessment. This was followed by detailed bridge inspections performed by certified bridge inspectors and, if necessary, by engineers with specialized skills. Key advantage of the proposed response plan is that it was developed to mesh well with the sponsoring agency’s existing staffing and organizational structure. The project report contains a process flowchart, clear lines of responsibility, prioritization methods, reporting forms, list of necessary resources, sample photos of possible earthquake damages, strategies for post-earthquake repairs, and staff training exercises. This paper briefly describes the earthquake response plan.