Sustainable Bridges – Implementing Owner Sustainability Requirements

In recent years, significant steps have been taken to improve the sustainability performance of buildings, most commonly by defining mandatory requirements through laws and regulations in a 'top down' approach. But how are the principles of sustainability being brought into the world of bridges? Are similar 'top down' approaches being used? After setting out the subject of the paper and defining the 'top down' approach to implementation of new practices within the construction industry, a case study is presented which reviews how requirements for sustainability have been introduced into the existing framework for the technical approval of bridges in the United Kingdom. The advantages and disadvantages of such an approach are discussed.