Bridge decks typically are the first transportation structures to freeze during cold weather. The greatest risks associated with chemical use on bridges are corrosion of imbedded steel and concrete deterioration. TxDOT allows each district to use commercially available chemical products. Corrosion potentials vary with each material.

Bridges are composed of substructures (caps, columns, foundations) and superstructures (beams, bridge deck, and rail). Each respective structural element has an associated risk created by the use of de-icers and the related destructive forces created by the corrosive nature of the agents. Review of bridge components that exhibit the most risk and damage are contained in the following sections.