North American and British Long‐Span Bridge Loads

For many years, major bridges have been built without the designers having any specific basis for the traffic loads used in the design. Traffic loads are compared between codes in the United Kingdom, which has the longest span in the world, and in the United States, which has the second and third longest. Recent studies in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom have resulted in major changes to recommended long‐span bridge‐design loads. These, too, are compared. Multiple‐lane loading and impact are also discussed. The current British loading is similar to, but heavier than, the loading recommended by the ASCE Committee on Loads and Forces on Bridges.