Question

Which type of inspection is more intensive of structural element?

Answer 1

itial Infrequent, performed and inventoried before the bridge is first opened

to traffic or there is a change or update in inspection responsibility.

Routine Annual, performed at least once each calendar year per ORC Not To

Exceed (NTE) 18‐months.    

In‐Depth As‐needed, generally performed for Major or Complex bridges often on

a 60‐month cycle or less per Control Authority or inspection and

maintenance procedure.  Additionally this inspection type is

recommended when the routine inspection does not provide a

condition evaluation to ascertain the safe live load capacity at the

discretion of the Team Leader or Program Manager.

Damage As‐needed, performed in‐frequently and not part of a normally

scheduled inspection, i.e. someone else notifies inspectors of the

damage.

Flood   As‐needed, performed in‐frequently and not part of a normally

scheduled inspection.

Fracture Critical Not to exceed 24‐months for structures that fit the rigid definition.  

Fracture Critical Inspections require an inspection procedure.

Underwater Not to exceed 60‐months.  For structures that cannot be probed or

inspected due to the water depth, turbidity or unsafe conditions during

routine inspections shall receive an Underwater Dive Inspection.  Dive

Inspections require an inspection procedure.

Cross Channel

Profile  

As‐needed, performed on structures over waterways at the discretion

of the Control Authority.  Usually performed on bridges over waterways

that exhibit aggressive stream migration, sloughing or undercutting.

Scour Susceptibility

Inspection & Eval

As‐needed, performed on structures in order to evaluate risk from

scour and scour potential

Special/Interim As‐needed, performed at an interval more frequently than the routine

inspection in order to check on one area or one location.  The localized

inspection may only focus on and update one or a small number of

inspection or inventory data.

Safety (Cursory) Annual, at least once each calendar year not to exceed 18‐months, on

structures or portions of structures that are primarily inspected by

another entity.

Quality Assurance A rolling sample set of field and office visits performed regularly by

FHWA, ODOT Central Office, CEAO or initiated by any Control Authority

or NBIS Program Manager to verify quality inspections.

Complex Annual routine, with often a 60‐month in‐depth inspection cycle.  These

structures require an inspection procedure.