What It Means
Fracture critical bridges contain non-redundant steel tension members — if one member fails due to fatigue, corrosion, or overload, the bridge could collapse without warning. These bridges require hands-on inspection of all fracture critical members at intervals not exceeding 24 months. Examples include two-girder bridges, tied arches, and some truss bridges. FHWA maintains a separate inventory of fracture critical bridges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Fracture Critical" mean?
A bridge with steel tension members whose failure would cause partial or complete bridge collapse.
Why does Fracture Critical matter for bridge safety?
Fracture critical bridges contain non-redundant steel tension members — if one member fails due to fatigue, corrosion, or overload, the bridge could collapse without warning. These bridges require hands-on inspection of all fracture critical members at intervals not exceeding 24 months. Examples inc...