Public Affairs

In the current 111th Congress, the Bridge Life Extention Act of 2009 has made significant progress. Notably, in the Senate on September 23, 2009 United States Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced the Bridge Life Extension Act of 2009 (S. 1701), legislation which will help protect the structural integrity of America’s bridge infrastructure. Senator Brown drafted S. 1701 to serve as the Senate companion to Congressman Michael Conaway’s (R-TX) Bridge Life Extension Act of 2009 (HR 1682), a House bill which was introduced in March 2009 and supported by Congresswoman Betty Sutton (D-OH) as an original cosponsor of the legislation, and Congressmen Todd Akin (R-MO), Chris Carney (D-PA), Jim Gerlach (R-PA), Ted Poe (R-TX), and Joe Sestak (D-PA). 

 

Sen. Brown’s introduction of S. 1701 is a critical step if the legislation is to become U.S. law because before the President can sign a bill into law, the bill must be introduced, voted on, and passed in both the House and Senate.

 

Both the House and Senate versions of the Bridge Life Extention Act address the nation’s need to develop and install new anti-corrosion technologies and protect infrastructure for future generations. Further, the House and Senate Bridge Life Extension legislation is a perfect fit for the current Washington emphasis on stimulus spending. The bills will create new jobs while protecting America’s bridge infrastructure and save taxpayer dollars.

 

The Bridge Life Extension legislation amends Title 23 of the United States Code so to require states to develop corrosion mitigation and prevention plans for all bridges undergoing repair, rehabilitation or construction. In developing and implementing a highway bridge management system, S. 1701 and HR 1682 require states to identify corrosion mitigation and prevention methods that will be used to preserve the highway bridges in the state, taking into account: material selection; coating considerations; cathodic protection considerations; design considerations for corrosion; and concrete requirements.

 

Further, S. 1701 and HR 1682 require states to establish a project maintenance program for highway bridges in the state for the purpose of extending the life of each highway bridge; ensure that all highway bridge designers, inspectors, and maintenance individuals implementing the system are trained and certified in corrosion mitigation and prevention techniques; and research current inspection technologies and techniques for highway bridges.

Lastly, S. 1701 and HR 1682 require that states shall carry out the requirements in consultation with engineers and other experts specializing in corrosion mitigation and prevention methods.

 

When he introduced HR 1682, Congressman Conaway said, “Bridge collapses and closures should be a wakeup call for lawmakers. Our nation’s infrastructure is crumbling due to improper planning, negligence and inadequate management at all levels of governments.” Rep. Conaway further stated, “The ongoing cost of corrosion on U.S. bridges represents a needless waste of taxpayer dollars. It is my hope that my colleagues understand the importance of taking a proactive initiative and pass this important legislation. We cannot ignore the fact that lives have been lost due to past negligence, and more will be if we don’t address our nation’s aging infrastructure.”

 

Since arriving in Washington, D.C., Senator Brown and Congressman Conaway and Congresswoman Sutton have been at the forefront of bridge infrastructure legislation and other initiatives NACE International believes are important to the preservation of America’s infrastructure assets.

 

“It is clear that Senator Brown and Congressman Conaway have a long term vision for America’s bridge infrastructure assets. He understands the great losses that will occur if Congress continues to allow our nation’s infrastructure to continue to decline and deteriorate. America cannot afford to rebuild our nation’s entire critical infrastructure. As a result, asset preservation is paramount and the key to continued economic vitality. Infrastructure is central to America remaining globally competitive. S. 1701 and HR 1682 are excellent steps and take the nation in the right direction,” said Mark J. Byerley, Sr., NACE International President.

 

In sum, Senator Brown’s and Congressman Conaway’s versions of the Bridge Life Extension Act of 2009 make significant steps toward the establishment of bridge infrastructure corrosion control programs. The bills set new standards for bridges that receive federal assistance by requiring the states to develop a bridge structure maintenance plan, including corrosion mitigation and prevention measures, for all bridges undergoing repair, rehabilitation or construction. The bills require the states to ensure all designers, inspectors and maintenance individuals are certified in corrosion mitigation and prevention techniques. The bills also require the states to develop a project maintenance program that must contain expected useful life of the bridge and details of corrosion mitigation and prevention methods in construction and maintenance of the bridge.

 

NACE International supports and is promoting S. 1701 and HR 1682. Furthermore, NACE International has taken steps to address America’s aging bridge infrastructure with training and events related to bridge corrosion. The CIP One Day Bridge Course focuses on coating application of bridges, specific training on bridge coating inspection, and the role of the inspector in the quality control process. Cathodic protection is an essential technology to preventing bridge corrosion. The NACE CP Program provides training and certification for individuals in the field of cathodic protection.