New guidance for road agencies in Australia and New Zealand gives more flexibility in assessing bridges for access by heavy vehicles.
Bridge Assessment Guideline: Heavy Vehicles is aimed at road agencies and assessors in Australia and New Zealand. Many of the georegion’s bridges were built for older vehicle loads, but cannot viably be strengthened or replaced. They may, however, still need to be used by heavy vehicles. The guideline consists of advice and techniques to address risk while managing heavy vehicle access in a way that supports transport productivity.
“Bridges that do not meet the current design codes may still safely carry heavy vehicles if assessed with a comprehensive, risk-based approach,” said Ross Guppy of Austroads. “This guideline helps road agencies balance risk with productivity by distinguishing between structural assessment and access management, enabling more tailored and effective decisions.”
The guideline can be downloaded from Austroads.
