Whether arching over a rushing river or connecting interstate and highway systems, bridges are an everyday part of our nation's transportation system. These critical elements knit together communities across the country, providing safe travel of goods and people. Constructing new bridges is a complex, expensive, and time-consuming endeavor; and thus, it is paramount to design effective, sustainable bridges for today as well as future generations.

In 2013, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) rated the US bridge infrastructure a C+, as one in nine of the nation's bridges are rated as structurally deficient, and the average bridge age is 42 years. Technology, design innovation, and materials, as well as the type and volume of vehicles have evolved significantly in this time-frame, and maintaining or retrofitting these existing structures is both costly and labor intensive. As new and replacement bridges are built, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), state/province Departments of Transportation (DOTs/MOTs), and local governments are looking to the future.