The objective and scope of this research was to investigate the effects of construction loads and vibrations on typical newly poured reinforced concrete bridge decks. A compendium was developed that takes into consideration all the factors influencing the effects of construction loads and vibrations on the performance of reinforced concrete bridge decks, in particular, the structural cracking of the concrete. The parameters considered for the evaluation stages were age of concrete, stage and sequence of pours, curing procedures, heat of hydration, strength gain, thermal changes, type of construction, adjacent traffic, adjacent pile driving, and construction equipment. The identification process consisted of a comprehensive literature review and questionnaire survey. Due to the complexity of the subject, limited and often conflicting information was identified. An experimental program was conducted to determine the modulus of elasticity of concrete as well as the maximum curvatures that fresh concrete can withstand. A computer program was developed to identify the best possible pouring sequence for continuous span bridges. Two bridges for which the plans and other relevant information were made available by the Illinois Department of Transportation were modeled for construction loads and vibrations. The time history and dynamic analysis indicated that the sequence of pour has a significant effect on the deformation of the concrete at early ages. The mode shapes obtained by the finite element analysis were used to optimize sensor locations for the dynamic field testing. Locations at the supports and along the two exterior girders of both bridges were selected for instrumentation based on the dynamic analysis results.