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Staged construction is often used for bridges, in which a portion of a bridge remains open to traffic while another portion is closed for construction. Although staged construction reduces delays and the need for detours, subjecting the partially constructed bridge to dead and vehicular live loading can lead to damage and subsequent deterioration, including compromised longitudinal construction joints and transverse deck cracking. Despite past studies and best practices, transverse cracking persists and is often observed more on one side of the deck during construction, and no definitive explanation has been provided. As such, the objective of this study is to present a mechanics-based method for assessing transverse deck cracking in bridges during staged construction. Demonstrated on two bridges that underwent staged construction, the assessment method provides insights into the persistence of the issue and …