Determining measures enhancing bridges maintenance practice in Nigeria

Abstract

A number of bridges, across the globe, have suffered from poor maintenance. This has caused cracks and other forms of deterioration resulting to untimely failure of the bridge structure thereby impairing its safety. That is attributed to limited number of accurate and economical techniques and measures hindering the enhancement of the bridges maintenance practice particularly in Nigeria. This study assesses bridges maintenance practice within Kaduna and Zaria based on the following objectives: the identification of the concepts of bridges maintenance practice, examination of the measures enhancing bridges maintenance practice within Kaduna and Zaria metropolis and the determination of suitable measures that enhance bridges maintenance practice. A total of one hundred and fifty (150) questionnaires were administered to maintenance personnel of state and federal government agencies, consultants and contractors that are involved with bridges maintenance. Ninety-two (92) valid questionnaires were returned representing 61.33% valid response rate, and subsequently analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The study determines the following: inventory, condition, need and damage assessments, reliability and technical feasibility, funding and allocation, considerations of risks involved with any damages in safety and scheduling and programming among others as the most suitable measures enhancing bridges maintenance practice within Kaduna and Zaria metropolis. The thirty-two (32) Bridge Maintenance Measures (BMM), based on global best practices, in order of their suitability as rated in the study will enhance the practice. The suitable measures determined in this study have the potential for enhancing bridges maintenance practice towards achieving safety, cost, quality, amongst others.