Life cycle costs. The importance of the users’ costs

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present a methodology that allows the quantification of the users’ costs in bridge life cycle costs analysis. This model, created for concrete roadway bridges, allows the quantification of the users’ costs in a swift and intuitive way. The considered items for the quantification of the costs are: vehicle operation, time, accidents and tolls when applicable. This method, implemented along with a deterioration model, allows the quantification of the users’ costs for different material alternatives of reinforced concrete bridges. The users’ costs are quantified with the comparison of the costs corresponding to a free flow condition with those that result from the scenario of the creation of work zones. The users’ costs quantification methodology allows the definition of recommendations concerning the design and construction stages of concrete roadway bridges with the aim of minimizing the life cycle costs.