(a)
The department shall develop revised seismic standards for earthquake resistance to be utilized in the design and construction of new state highways and bridges, and for the retrofit of existing highways and bridges.
(b)
In the development of those standards, the department shall do all of the following:
(1)
Thoroughly investigate and analyze the structural damage to highways and bridges resulting from the October 17, 1989, Loma Prieta earthquake, and utilize the experience of that earthquake in the development of revised standards.
(2)
Incorporate in those standards, state of the art technology for designing and constructing highways and bridges to withstand extreme seismic activity, utilizing, where appropriate, the available technology and methodology from all engineering and scientific disciplines, including state of the art assessment tools and computer modeling techniques. Where appropriate, the department shall study and incorporate technologies utilized in other countries and proven technologies and accomplishments from other fields, such as those used in the design and construction of high-rise structures.
(3)
Maintain contact and communication, and exchange information with, persons and organizations concerned with seismic engineering issues.
(c)
The department shall continue to revise and update the standards periodically, so that they reflect the department’s latest findings.
(d)
Upon completing the development of revised seismic standards, and whenever those standards are updated, the department shall make the standards, including the supporting data, available to all other public agencies in this state which are engaged in the design, construction, or inspection of streets, roads, highways, and bridges.
