Investing in bridge infrastructure requires consideration of many critical factors, including selecting the right construction materials for the project. When installed correctly, prestressed bridge girders last for nearly 75 years. Prestressed concrete bridge girders offer unmatched durability, extended service life compared to other bridge materials or superstructures, and can minimize construction schedule delays.
Data recorded from the 2022 National Bridge Inventory (NBI) through June 2023 has shown that of the in-service bridges built from 1950-2022, Prestressed Concrete accounts for 41% when compared to other material types such as Reinforced Concrete, Steel, and Timber. Additionally, of the total poor-condition bridges built from 1950-2022, only 21% are Prestressed Concrete. This information demonstrates the durability and service life as Prestressed Concrete bridges make up a smaller portion of poor-condition bridges in relation to the percentage of bridges in service.
An analysis performed in 2019 showed that from 2007-2016, 23 states met a 65% threshold of building new bridges using prestressed concrete. When extending that analysis to 2012-2022, the number of states increased to 29. These comparisons and trends go on to show an increase in market share for concrete bridge construction across the country.
County Prestress & Precast’s Prestressed Concrete Bridge Girders offer accelerated lead times with our enhanced production capacity. With the ability to produce prestressed bridge girders while the job site is being prepared and reducing the need for temporary support structures, project timelines and costs can be significantly reduced.
Prestressed bridge girders are manufactured to specification and delivered to job sites ready to install. Because concrete bridge girders can be manufactured, delivered, and installed throughout the year, regardless of weather and climate conditions, construction leaders can minimize weather delays.
County Prestress & Precast is a Prestressed/Precast Concrete Institute (PCI) member. Aspire – The Concrete Bridge Magazine is a quarterly magazine published by the PCI in cooperation with the associations of the National Concrete Bridge Council. For more information, refer to the current Aspire Magazine : Winter 2025issue on their website.