How to Prevent Bridges From Rusting

When we pass over a bridge, whether that be by car, rail, foot, or anything else – at the very least we expect said bridge to be safe and stable, right?

However, unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. In fact, experts have found that more than 95 per cent of structural damage on bridges can be traced back to some form of corrosion [DST], rust being one of them!

Rust on bridges can cause a whole load of problems, and the best form of treatment is prevention! We’ll discuss how to prevent bridges from rusting.

What Causes Bridges to Rust?

To learn how to prevent bridges from rusting, we need to understand why they rust in the first place.

Put simply, rust is the result of a natural process where the iron in metals comes into contact with oxygen and water, causing it to corrode and deteriorate [Fluoramics, Inc.].

This is why you’ll often associate rust with things you’ll find by the sea such as boats, anchors, and chains.

Maintenance Is Key

While it may sound obvious, regular bridge maintenance is absolutely essential for ensuring the longest lifespan of a bridge, and we don’t mean just surface level either!

It’s super easy for bridge maintenance inspectors to simply check the main elements of the bridge, without looking in detail at every aspect. 

This is a huge mistake! Bridges must be regularly and thoroughly inspected and maintained to help prevent corrosion such as rusting.

Deter The Elements

If you have a bridge that’s ever exposed to rain, let alone near a body of water – it’s going to encourage rust to form. Therefore, one of the best lines of defence against this is structural waterproofing solutions.

Waterproofing your bridge essentially means that it’s a lot harder (if not impossible!) for water to creep into the cracks and react with oxygen to form rust. Essentially, bridge deck waterproofing systems act as a barrier to protect the bridge.

Repair Any Cracks Immediately

This links to our first point about regular maintenance – not only is general maintenance key to preventing issues but any problems that do arise should also be treated immediately to limit the amount of damage caused.

If this is the case, it’s also important to be aware of any internal or hidden damage that may have been caused that’s less obvious on first inspection. For example, check your waterproofing systems are still completely intact!

At Route One Infrastructure, Our experienced management and operations team can undertake any bridges and structures project, small and complex or large and challenging. Contact us today to find out more.