In accordance with AASHTO LRFD (1998), vessel traffic data on inland and intracoastal waterways are collected from available resources and a synthesizing methodology is developed to statistically process these data by vessel types, sizes, and displacements. Using the developed Mathcad software, an illustrative bridge with four piers is designed according to the design code, in which waterborne traffic on Wimico River, Gulf County, FL are utilized as input data. The results indicate that only one vessel group in each direction generally controls the design of a specific pier and its selection mainly depends on the relationship between the draft of barges and the water depth at the pier.
