Survey of Cathodic Protection Systems on Virginia Bridges

A study investigated the status of cathodic protection systems that had been deployed on Virginia highway bridge structures over the past 24 years. A variety of system types had been used on structures located across the state. The general design, current status, and notes about observed performance of each system are presented. A summary of general observations about the state of cathodic protection technology in Virginia is provided. From visual observations, review of available condition reports, and discussions with system design and maintenance personnel, it was concluded that cathodic protection was successfully deployed in many, but not all, of the attempted applications in Virginia. However, a comprehensive and unified strategy for monitoring and maintenance of Virginia's cathodic protection systems is needed.