REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE FOR BRIDGES
Extend the life of your bridge assets with VSL
Bridges are vital links in our transportation networks, whether they serve vehicles, pedestrians, or rail lines. But many of these structures are aging, exposed to harsh environmental conditions, increasing loads, and evolving design standards As they deteriorate, the risk of damage or closure increases, with major safety and economic consequences.
VSL supports asset owners with end-to-end services to inspect, maintain, repair, strengthen and replace bridge structures. Our goal: to protect users, extend service life, and reduce whole-life costs and carbon impact.
Bridges are vital links in our transportation networks, whether they serve vehicles, pedestrians, or rail lines. But many of these structures are aging, exposed to harsh environmental conditions, increasing loads, and evolving design standards As they deteriorate, the risk of damage or closure increases, with major safety and economic consequences.
VSL supports asset owners with end-to-end services to inspect, maintain, repair, strengthen and replace bridge structures. Our goal: to protect users, extend service life, and reduce whole-life costs and carbon impact.
What we do: VSL expertise across the full lifecycle
We support you at every stage, from inspections to strengthening or partial replacement. We work on all types of structures and materials, concrete, steel, masonry, timber, or composite, and adapt our approach to each asset’s condition and context and see how our expertise delivers results worldwide.
Why Choose VSL for bridge repair and maintenance?
We combine design, engineering, manufacturing, and execution under one roof. Our in-house technical department develops tailored solutions to meet each project’s unique needs.
VSL designs and produces its own post-tensioning systems, structural dampers, and monitoring solutions — ensuring full control over quality, performance, and durability.
We operate across more than 30 countries, combining global best practices with local know-how and compliance. Our site teams are VSL-trained to deliver consistent, high-quality results.
Preserving existing infrastructure is one of the most effective ways to cut carbon emissions. VSL pioneers new techniques, including UHPFRC durability overlays, advanced corrosion protection, and selective replacement of structural parts.
From early inspections to post-completion monitoring, we provide continuous support throughout the asset lifecycle, helping clients extend service life and optimize performance.
FAQs about bridge repair and maintenance
General inspections are recommended every 1–2 years, with detailed assessments every 5–6 years depending on asset class and exposure. Special inspections might be required after unexpected findings or in case of sudden damage.
When loads increase, design codes change, or significant damage is found, strengthening ensures continued structural performance without full replacement.
What is the difference between repair, preservation and maintenance?
Repair addresses detected damage; preservation includes preventive treatments that avoid future issues or slows down degradation; maintenance addresses wear and tear, in particular of components such as bearings, joins and drainage.
The bridge is equipped with temporary or permanent sensors which feed into a remote monitoring system. The obtained data is processed and reviewed by experts to detect sudden or slow changes affecting the structure’s health or to validate design assumptions. This supports bridge inspection and maintenance.
This depends on many factors including the required service life of the bridge, its current and future use, its original design and maintenance history and its condition. Extending the useful life of a bridge is an efficient way to avoid CO2 emissions compared to building new infrastructure which can also get converted into monetary value.
Concrete bridges are in fact made of steel reinforcement and concrete. It is the steel reinforcement that corrodes once the concrete has lost its protective properties. This either happens when the concrete cover carbonates in contact with air, or when chlorides penetrate the concrete. Cracks and defects in the concrete can accelerate the process and steel corrosion often leads to concrete spalling.