The deteriorating highway culvert infrastructure has become a major challenge for the 21st century. While more importance usually is given to highway embankments, pavements, and bridges, the maintenance of culverts has commonly been neglected. As many culverts reach the end of their design life, the state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) are in need of a model to track the existing culverts and forecast their conditions. Therefore, the main goals of this research is to develop a framework for culvert inventory and inspection by providing protocols and condition rating systems for culvert inventory and inspection, and validate the developed framework by conducting field pilot studies. Performance scores for the culverts are calculated using an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to determine the magnitude of the deterioration and assist in short and long term planning. This study focuses on concrete, corrugated metal, and plastic culverts spanning less than or equal to 10 feet (3 meters). The developed model contributes to an effective culvert asset management strategy.
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