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.