Creating a Bridge Inspection Program

In 2006 an unfortunate failure of a Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) bridge over an irrigation canal caused injury to an employee, a totaled vehicle, and a 100 gallon diesel spill into the waterway. An unstable foundation condition which could have been previously identified resulted in the bridge's collapse. As a part of the corrective action LCRA developed a comprehensive bridge inspection and management program. The goal of the program is to identify potential hazards and to extend the useful life of the structures through a documented inspection process. The results of inspections inform the area supervisor about the condition of the structures and identify preventive maintenance and repair requirements. This preventative program is a cornerstone for ensuring the safety of these structures which are used by LCRA personnel as well as the general public. While the program was loosely modeled on various federal and state inspection programs, this program is unique in that it considers all aspects of bridge ownership. Thus, the program incorporates legal, engineering, and maintenance aspects into one inspection and management policy.