Effective management of road links composed of road sections and bridges requires the determination
of preservation strategies that maximize stakeholder benefits. Solving such an optimization problem
is challenging since the objective function and constraints are mostly non-linear, and the execution of interventions
is discrete. This type of problem can, however, be solved using mixed-integer nonlinear programming
(MINLP) methods. In this paper it is illustrated how MINLP methods can be used to determine optimal
preservation strategies for road links composed of road sections and bridges. The objective function is the
minimization of the costs incurred during and between the executions of interventions by different stakeholders,
and includes accident costs, travel time costs, vehicle costs and environmental costs. The conditions of the
objects in the road link are represented using performance indicators and the changes in condition over time
are modeled as continuous functions. The use of the MINLP methods is illustrated by determining the optimal
preservation strategies for a fictive road link consisting of 2 road sections and 1 bridge that are each subjected
to gradual deterioration processes.