Transport is among the main development agents of the European economy and it has a significant environmental impact. Even though the environmental impact of transport is more directly related with energy consumption, it is also associated with other factors depending on the physical and economic sustainability of the infrastructures.

The development of new infrastructure projects are usually analysed only taking into account the minimisation of construction costs, whereas the service costs related with maintenance and rehabilitation are in most cases disregarded. Indeed, the sustainability of infrastructure implies a careful analysis from conception and construction, to the rehabilitation and maintenance requirements throughout its lifespan.

The project's main goal is to create a DURATINET network of excellence to facilitate an efficient exchange and transfer of knowledge to promote the durability, safety and sustainability of transport infrastructures.

Taking into account this context, a work plan was set out including the following actions:

• Production of guidelines for maintenance of reinforced concrete and steel infrastructures.
• Creation of new competences at an infrastructure maintenance level, to identify new requirements from structures' owners on quality control of repair products and rehabilitation processes.
• Development of a DURATINET web platform with the all the project's information and free access for the community in order to maintain the network's results alive.