The effects of construction practices and material properties on the performance of concrete bridge decks are evaluated. Emphasis is placed on comparing bridge decks with silica fume and conventional concrete overlays and determining if the silica fume overlays commonly used on bridges in Kansas are performing at a level that justifies the extra cost and construction precautions. Forty continuous steel girder bridges, 20 with silica fume overlays, 16 with conventional overlays and four with monolithic bridge decks are included in the study.