Analysis of the Implied Reliability Index and Load and Resistance Coefficients for China’s Current Highway Bridge Load-Carrying Capacity Evaluation Code

China’s current load-carrying capacity evaluation code for highway bridges is a semi reliability-based code. The reliability level of the code is analyzed through a comparative study, and methods used to update the reliability level of this code are specified in this paper. A formula to calculate the implied reliability index is proposed and verified by comparison with calibrated reliability indexes in design codes. Then the formula is used to calculate the implied reliability index with statistical parameters derived from the load and resistance coefficients in the current code. It is proposed that the implied reliability index should be adjusted by considering historical failure rates. Different criteria used to define historical failure rates of highway bridges are discussed. In addition, the paper compares the reliability level, applicability, evaluation frequency, target reliability indexes, and resistance and load coefficients between AASHTO and China’s current code. The paper would serve as a reference for the upcoming research on the updating of current highway bridge Load-carrying capacity evaluation code.