Due to the uncertainty of the inherent properties and the complexity of the environment, bridges need to have sufficient reliability in different stages of design, construction, and operation. In order to understand the latest developments in the research and application of bridge engineering reliability in 2020, the relevant theoretical methods, scientific research content and results at different stages are summarized through literature review. In terms of the bridge reliability theory and methods, GPR models and radial basis neural networks are introduced to obtain the implicit structural function functions. Copula theory is introduced to consider the relationship between the probability of multiple failure modes. The probabilistic reliability and non-probabilistic reliability methods, Monte Carlo simulation, time-varying reliability theory, etc. are used for reliability evaluation. The technical status and reliability of existing bridges are still hot spots in the field of bridge engineering at home and abroad. The time-varying model of bridge resistance and external load under environmental conditions is the focus of the time-varying reliability analysis and the life prediction of bridges. Reliability theory and analysis methods have been gradually developed in bridge engineering design. There are more and more dynamic reliability studies and applications that consider the randomness of dynamic load action and the randomness of structural parameters.