Impacts of “MAP-21”on the National Bridge Inspection Program

Federal Highway Administration

Impacts of “MAP-21”on the National Bridge Inspection Program

Tribal Government Coordination MeetingDate August 7, 2014

Presented by: Gary Moss, P.E.Acting Team Leader, FHWA Office of Bridges and Structures

Presentation Outline

• Overview of the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS)

• MAP-21 Requirements for Bridge and Tunnel Inspections

• Impact of MAP-21 on Tribally Owned Bridges


The Silver Bridge Collapse• US 35: Ohio River between WV & OH • Eye-bar suspension design• Collapsed evening of Dec. 15, 1967 • Cause: instantaneous fracture• 46 fatalities

History of the National Bridge Inspection Program


1968 - Federal-Aid Highway Act – creation of the national bridge inspection standards (NBIS) and inventory of Federal-aid highway system bridges

History of the National Bridge Inspection Program

1971 - The first National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) were developed

1978 – NBIS was expanded to all highway bridges on public roads


National Bridge Inspection Program

• Law: 23 U.S.C. 144

• Regulation: 23 CFR 650oRegulation sets the national standards for the

proper safety inspection and evaluation of all highway bridges in accordance with 23 U.S.C 144

oReferred to as NBIS


Evolution of the Program

• 1983 - I-95 over Mianus River Bridge Collapsed in CT

• 1987 - I-90 over Schoharie Creek Bridge Collapsed in NY

• NBIS requirements for Fracture Critical members and Underwater Inspections were added

Evolution of the Program

• 2007 - I-35 W over the Mississippi River in MN Collapsed


Current Requirements of the NBIS

Key Sections of the NBIS to be discussed:• 650.303: Applicability• 650.307: Bridge Inspection Organization• 650.309: Qualifications of Personnel • 650.311: Inspection Frequency• 650.313: Inspection Procedures• 650.315: Inventory


Section 650.303: Applicability• Pertains to all highway bridges located on

public roads• Publicly owned bridges over 20 feet

– Public road: any road or street under the jurisdiction of and maintained by a publicauthority and open to public travel

• Current NBIS does not apply to tribal governments but MAP-21 changed the law and included tribal governments.


Section 650.303: Applicability• Does not pertain to:

XXRailroad or pedestrian bridges

Sign structures


Section 650.307: Bridge Inspection Organization

• State Transportation Department (or Federal Agency for Federal bridges) is responsible for statewide:– Policies & procedures– Quality control/quality assurance– Maintaining inventory – Reports, load ratings, and other requirements


Section 650.309: Qualifications of Personnel

• Program Manager – In charge of unit that performs bridge

inspection, reporting, and inventory

• Team Leader– In charge of the bridge inspection team

• Underwater Inspector


Section 650.311: Inspection Frequency

Sets an inspection interval for many types of inspections, such as:- Routine (24 Months)

- Underwater (60 Months)

- Fracture Critical Member (24 Months Hands on)

- Damage, In-Depth, and Special (as Needed)


Section 650.313: Inspection Procedures

• Inspect per procedures in the AASHTO Manual for Bridge Evaluation (MBE)

• Rating and load posting:– Rate according to the AASHTO MBE– Post or restrict warranted bridges


Section 650.313: Inspection Procedures

• Documentation:– Prepare bridge files in accordance with

the MBE– Maintain reports and relevant

maintenance data– Record findings and results on standard

forms


Section 650.315: Inventory

• Prepare and maintain an inventory of all bridges subject to the NBIS– Collect and retain SI&A data according to the

Coding Guide

• Data is submitted electronically to FHWA annually

NBIS Requirements Summary• All bridges on public roads measuring more than 20 feet in length are

to be inspected

• Bridges with Fracture Critical Members (FCM) to receive a “close-up” inspections

• Underwater inspections on warranted bridges

• Qualified inspectors and program managers perform the inspections and maintain inventory records

• Recording and reporting of inventory items for each bridge annually

• NBIS are described under 23 CFR Part 650, Subpart C—National Bridge Inspection Standards

MAP-21

• SAFETEA-LU expired on 9/30/09 – 10 extensions (final one from 7/1/12 - 7/6/12)

• MAP-21 Signed by President July 6, 2012

• 2 year Bill (FY2013 & FY2014)

• Most provisions took effect on October 1st, 2012

• Avg. annual funding at FY12 levels (plus minor inflation)

MAP-21 Requirements for Bridges• Calls for a National Inventory of bridges and

tunnels on public roads including tribally and Federally owned bridges

• Calls for bridge and tunnel inspection standards to be carried out by State, Federal and tribal governments

(1) inventory all highway bridges on public roads, on andoff Federal-aid highways, including tribally owned and Federally owned bridges,……

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MAP-21 Requirements for Bridges

• FHWA to establish and maintain inspection standards for bridges and tunnelso Specify method for carrying out inspectionso Establish max time between inspectionso Establish qualificationso Require written reports and inventory datao National inspector certification process

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MAP-21 Requirements for Bridges MAP-21 directs FHWA to:• Establish procedures for compliance reviews• Establish procedures for reporting critical

findings and monitoring corrective actions• Requirement to conduct annual compliance

reviewso Issue report with review results by December 31st

o Implement “penalty” if no resolution or plan of corrective actions within 45 days

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MAP-21-Bridge & Tunnel Inspection

‘‘(1) REQUIREMENT.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish and maintain inspection standards for the proper inspection and evaluation of all highway bridges and tunnels for safety and serviceability.

‘‘(B) UNIFORMITY.—The standards under this subsection shall be designed to ensure uniformity of the inspections and evaluations.

‘‘(2) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF INSPECTION STANDARDS.—The standards established under paragraph (1) shall, at a minimum—

‘‘(A) specify, in detail, the method by which the inspections shall be carried out by the States, Federal agencies, and tribal governments;

‘‘(B) establish the maximum time period between inspections;


MAP-21-Bridge & Tunnel Inspection‘‘(C) establish the qualifications for those charged withcarrying out the inspections;‘‘(D) require each State, Federal agency, and tribal government to maintain and make available to the Secretary on request—‘‘(i) written reports on the results of highway bridge and tunnel inspections and notations of any action taken pursuant to the findings of the inspections; and‘‘(ii) current inventory data for all highway bridges and tunnels reflecting the findings of the most recent highway bridge and tunnel inspections conducted; and‘‘(E) establish a procedure for national certification ofhighway bridge inspectors and tunnel inspectors.


Impact of MAP-21 on Tribally Owned Bridges

• Need to inventory all bridges that are open the traveling public– Currently BIA estimates there are 300 bridges

owned by 200 tribal governments• Need to inspect and maintain an inventory for

all bridges open to the travelling public.



• Managing inspections and records– Having a qualified program manager, inspection

team leaders and load raters– Maintaining records of inspections and key data– Developing policy and procedures required by the

NBIS



Next Steps• Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM)• Comment period • Address comments from NPRM• Determine next actions?

Impacts of “MAP-21”on the National Bridge Inspection Program

Documents

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