Identify and suggest solution for the deterioration of Peradeniya Bridge

Peradeniya Bridge
The once called as ‘Satin wood bridge’ which was entirely made with satin wood except for
two stone columns over Mahaweli Ganga in Peradeniya was designed and built by by Lt.
Colonel John Fraser (1790-1863)1. It was then again rebuilt in 1905 as steel concrete
composite deck Slab Bridge. In recent times it started showing signs of deterioration and it is
mandatory to take immediate action to prevent any tragedies in the future.
There are several causes for deterioration of a bridge. They are mostly depended on the
environment the bridge located. The deterioration of concrete bridge can be occur by
corrosion of steel or degradation of concrete. ‘The deterioration processes are complex and
often prompt one another’ (Gucunski, 2013). Even though there several deterioration
phenomena, the main deterioration causes have to be concerned are rebar corrosion, deck
declamation, vertical cracking and concrete degradation2.