Purpose. The aim of the work is to summarize design errors, construction defects and shortcomings and bridge defects after long-term operation on the basis of real field studies and analysis of scientific and technical sources. Methodology. To achieve this goal, an inspection of scientific and technical sources and regulations on the technical condition of transport facilities in Ukraine was conducted. In particular, it is a bridge in the city of Khust, built in 2000 on the site destroyed by floods in 1998 and a monolithic frame-cantilever bridge on the highway Mukachevo-Rogatin km 92 +700, built in 2001 on the site of partially destroyed in March 2001. The authors also took part in the construction, testing for static and dynamic loads of six steel-reinforced concrete bridges in Kobiletska and Kosivska Polyana, which were erected in 2000 on the site of those destroyed by the 1998 flood, as well as overpasses and bridges of long-term operation, – this is the Beregovsky bridge in the city of Mukachevo and the overpass in the village of Vistova. The results of the analysis and synthesis of the above studies became the basis for establishing the corresponding design errors, defects and shortcomings in construction and shortcomings in the operation of bridges and overpasses. Results. The analysis of domestic and foreign scientific and technical sources regarding the technical condition of the constructed reinforced concrete, steel-reinforced concrete bridges and bridges and overpasses of long-term operation is carried out. The analysis and synthesis of the problems of ensuring the reliability and durability of transport structures in the conditions of their operation in the air, soil and water environment. It is established on real examples of design errors, defects and shortcomings in construction, shortcomings in operation. The possibility of restoring the bearing capacity using modern materials and technologies is shown. Scientific novelty. As a result of the analysis of transport structures, scientific and technical sources and a number of studies of reinforced concrete and steel-reinforced concrete structures of bridges built after the floods in 1998 and 2001 and bridges (overpasses) of long-term operation, it was possible to summarize the main reasons that significantly affect the degradation of the structures of these bridges and overpasses. The possibility of restoring their bearing capacity and durability using modern materials and technologies is shown. In particular, it was found that in addition to power factors, factors of the air, soil and water environment also significantly affect. Practical significance. On the basis of these data, and observing the indicated objects for 20 years, it was possible to generalize and establish design errors, defects and shortcomings in construction and shortcomings of long-term operation. This makes it possible to propose areas of theoretical and experimental research and calculation methods, to take them into account in the design and operation of such structures. In particular, on the basis of these data, a technique was created and tested on real objects, which makes it possible to significantly increase the durability and reliability of such structures, using modern materials and technologies for repair and restoration work.