Rational　and　precise　evaluation　for　ultimate　flexural　capacity　is　essential　for　accurate　prediction　of　the　safety　margin　and　overload　capacity　of　existing　bridges.　One　of　the　spans　of　a　28-　year-old　distressed　simply　supported　T-girder　bridge　with　a　span　of　20　m　was　severely　damaged,　and　the　decision　to　replace　it　with　new　one　was　made.　A　field　destructive　load　test　of　this　distressed　span　was　performed.　A　nonlinear　finite-element　model　technique　was　used　to　predict　the　failure　load　and　retrace　the　load-versus-deflection　response.　The　ultimate　flexural　capacity　obtained　by　the　destructive　load　test　was　compared　with　the　results　of　a　limit-states　design　method.　The　comparison　revealed　that　the　ultimate　flexural　capacity　of　the　distressed　bridge　was　more　than　the　bending　moment　produced　by　the　combined　effect　of　self-weight　and　overloaded　vehicles　plying　over　it,　which　explains　why　the　bridge　supported　overloaded　vehicles　for　many　years.　(C)　2017　American　Society　of　Civil　Engineers.