BRIDGE MANAGEMENT UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE: ANALYSIS OF REGULATIONS, MONITORING STRATEGIES, AND ASSESSMENT OF FUTURE THERMAL EFFECTS

The reliability and security of road transportation networks are essential for modern societies, yet bridges, viaducts, and tunnels often represent their most vulnerable links. Many structures have exceeded their design life and operate in poor condition, making effective management, inspection, and monitoring crucial, especially under increasing climate-induced stresses. This research evaluates the actual codes and guidelines for maintenance, inspections and monitoring with a particular focus in the Italian country. The study examines the application of the Guidelines by managing authorities, identifying issues in the inventory and risk classification processes and proposing refinements. It further reviews international standards addressing climate impacts on transport infrastructure. A data-driven downscaling approach, integrating local weather records with structural health monitoring, is developed to project temperature- and strain-related responses of a prestressed concrete box-girder bridge. Finally, finite element modelling and reliability analysis quantify thermally induced structural effects under multiple future climate change scenarios.