Muti Beam Bridge Inspections

Today we inspected two muti beam bridges which carry I-95 North and South bound. Both bridges had several large spalls and hollow areas. There were a few areas of minor section loss and a couple holes in the web and web stiffeners.

Since we inspected the bridge two years ago we were able to insect the bridge more efficiently. We will also be conducting a rating for the bridge in the near future and were able to save drive time and confirm measurements for the rating.

I-95 Culvert and Arcadia Arch

Today I inspected a concrete box culvert with two cells. The culvert is 150 feet long and was pretty tricky to move around in with a few layers to stay warm and a pair of chest waders to stay dry.

The concrete arch is located right at Arcadia Park in Exeter, Rhode Island and spans over a small river.

Both structures required little to no equipment but waders certainly made it easier.

Arcadia has many trails for hiking and offers many small timber bridges with 5 ton postings typicaly so becareful if you're hauling something close that tonage.
http://www.riparks.com/arcadia.htm

I-95 over Amtrak

For the past few weeks I have been doing night inspections on tack with the help of Amtrak's finest and New England Bridge. For the inspection we used two flagmen, 60 foot Elliot rail mounted truck and a 45 foot rail mounted bucket truck. The multi girder, 4 span bridge has retrofit diaphragm connections which have cracked welds with arrest holes.

Rolled Steel Beam Bridge Inspection

A chilly night in Providence's begin with the inspection of a rolled steel beam bridge over I-95 Southbound. Even with the best traffic pattern the "S' curves in Providence is a dangerous place to be. The exit sign for the next exit had been damaged from a previous impact even with truck traffic detoured around a posted bridge further down I-95.

Providence's I-Way Invertory Inspections

Today started with a stop in Millbury MA to pick up an ice coffee at DDs and bagel. With sunny skys and a nice wind off the water, it was a shame to spend the day inside of a steel box girder. With access hatches at the ends of each span I was able to enter with the help of a bucket. The box girder is 8 feet tall and has trapezoidal shaped girders which allowed for easy movement through the inspection. 

The next bridge on the other hand had limited space and when I had to double check bearing connections and end diaphragm screens, movement was awkward and time consuming.

Providence I-Way Inspections

Today I inspected the interior of a steel box girder bridge in Providence RI, I walked each span hunched over in short trapezoidal shaped box girder trying to avoid the construction debris that still remained behind.

Providence's I-Way Inventory Bridge Inspections

Today I assisted in the inspection of the extior of a steel box girder bridge in Providence RI. The large three box girders carry a bare concrete deck ramp from I-95 Northbound to I-195 Eastbound. The weather was great for the inspection with clear skys.

I-195 over the Providence River

The past few weeks before the rain started I was out inspecting the Providence River Network Arch which was featured on an episode of Mega Movers on the History Channel. 

The arch was assembled downstream from the bridge site and moved by barge to the piers. 

Also included in the inspection of the arch were the cables and connections to the arch and bottom cord. With two 45 foot bucket trucks and an 80 foot man lift we were able to inspect the North and middle arch. The inspection of the South arch is being scheduled for a night in the near future when we can safely close one lane of traffic over the bridge.

The arch spans over 400 feet over the river and allows boats to pass under the bridge and through the hurricane barriers. The underside of the arch including the bottom cord and floorbeams were inspected using a man lift on a barge.

The bridge also has two spans which consist of steel box girders and four spans consisting of concrete butted box beams. The spans consisting of concrete butted box beams are were labeled up to "MM", very close to the maximum number of beams I have inspected in one span.

The interior of the steel arch was inspected after the air was tested and okeyed by confined space professionals. While inspecting the interior the use of a mask, air quality monitor and a tyvek suit came in handy. While inspecting the interior of the arch cracks were noticed in the welded diaphragm connections and were confirmed using dye penetrant tests in multiple locations.

Goodbye Providence River Bridge, see you in two years??

Timber Deck Bridge Inspection

Last week I was able to submit a rating for a bridge in Richmond, RI which carries a small road that leads to two small houses. The inspection of the bridge was conducted way back in the winter.

The bridge was completely rebuilt by the town of Richmond was in very good condition when we went out for the inspection. The old bridge had many deteriorated deck planks which were repaired with sheets of plywood and almost did not feel safe for walking let alone traffic, luckily that month the bridge was reconstructed.

Brass

Today I used Bridge Rating and Analysis of Structural Systems (BRASS) to check the output generated by VIRTIS. BRASS calculated the legal truck loads which RIDOT requires for their bridge ratings. After the check a few mistakes were noticed and they can be corrected. After the mistakes are corrected the report can be finished and ready for subtitle on April 9th.

Virtis bridge rating

Yesterday I started to learn AASHTO's bridge load rating software "Virtis". I used the program to rate a bridge for an off ramp on I-95 in Providence. So far I have only finished the exterior plate girder in Span #1 of a 3 simple span bridge.

Hopefully soon I will be able to use this program more and with more confidence. In the next three months we have approximately 20 bridges to rate and so far I am currently working on 4 ratings for Rhode Island and a 3 mile long highway foot print reconstruction project in Southbridge, MA.

The drainage which I have been assisting with is almost complete and the calculations are about 130 excel sheets long.

Bridge Rating Inspection

Was out in the field today doing a rating inspection in Providence, Rhode Island. The inspection was for a bridge that carries the off ramp from I-95 South to the Providence Place Mall. The inspection took about 8 hours and around 65 photos were taken to document the conditions.


The bridge consists of 10 spans, 5 of which are built up steel girders with a 64" web and the other 5 are made up of steel box girders with 66" webs. This was my first inspection of a box girder and I was able to open the access port to inspect the interior of the box girders.


I have already started the rating loads for the bridge which include the bridge deck (concrete slab), the parapet and railings.

Amtrak Training

As of March 11th and 12th I am MBCR and Amtrak Safety trained and can now inspect, rate and design birdges located on commuter rail and Amtrak railroads.
On March 13th Vice President Joe Biden announced that 1.3 billion of the stimulus package will be used to imporve Amtrak railroad and the majority of the work will be in the Northeast.