Measures against aging bridges

Of the 1,711 bridges managed by Road and Highway Bureau (as of March 1, 2023), 1,132 bridges, or about 66% of the total, were intensively constructed during the 30-year period from 1960 to 1989, during the period of the bubble economy. The proportion of bridges that have been in construction for more than 50 years is expected to be about 32% as of 2023, 10 years later, and about 81% in 2043, 20 years later. It is said that aging is progressing in the same trend as the nationwide situation.

If the so-called conservation-type maintenance will be carried out after it is broken, the bridge will be renewed at the same time, which will result in replacement and large-scale repair work will occur, resulting in a major financial burden.

In addition, neglecting proper management, such as leaving the damage, in the worst case, the bridge may collapse, threatening the safe and secure life of citizens.

Road and Highway Bureau carries out systematic maintenance and management based on the Yokohama City Bridge Life Extension Repair Plan.
The Yokohama City Bridge Long-Term conservation Renewal Plan (March 2004) stipulates the following objectives:

1. Minimize the total cost of bridge management over the long term by systematically extending the life of bridges.
2. 1) will ease and level the future financial burden.
3. Basic management policies for the realization of items 1 and 2 are systematically organized, such as inspection methods, policies for updating conservation, and prioritization of conservation renewal.