A significant number of state-maintained steel bridges are coated with lead-based paint. Steel bridges were coated with lead-based paint for more than 40 years. The coating systems have an expected effective life of 15 to 25 years, and those on many bridges are now deteriorating. Life extension and overall protection of the bridges from corrosion are dependent on refurbishing deteriorating coatings.
The public has become increasingly aware that lead can represent a significant human health and environmental threat. When intact and in good condition, the paint does not pose a significant health risk. It is when paint is removed to prepare the surface for coating replacement, or as the paint deteriorates, that the risk of significant health risks escalates.
Many highway structures are located in urban areas where lead-based paint removal has the potential to affect adjacent properties and to expose the public to hazardous concentrations of lead. Bridges are often constructed over water bodies where lead-containing dust from removal operations can affect water quality and the aquatic environment.
