Statewide Ohio River Fracture Critical Bridge Inspections 2021-2022 - Various Counties, KY

Palmer Engineering was selected by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) for one of the Statewide Fracture Critical Inspection contracts in 2021-2022 that included the following bridges:

• I-65 Girder-and-Floorbeam Bridges over the Rolling Fork River in Hardin County (047B00133L&R) - March 2021

• US 42 Through Truss Bridge over the Kentucky River in Carroll County (021B00043N) - June 2021

• US 31W Deck Truss Bridge over the Green River in Hart County (050B00004N) - August 2021

• US 27 Girder-and-Floorbeam Bridges over the Kentucky River in Garrard County (040B00028L&R) - July 2022

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Inspection teams performed safe and thorough inspections in accordance with the Kentucky Bridge Inspection Procedures Manual and the AASHTO Manual for Bridge Element Inspection. Inspectors used techniques such as rope access and lane closures during non-peak traffic times to best minimize the impact of the inspection on the traveling public. Inspection reports were authored in accordance with Section 300 of the Kentucky Bridge Inspection Procedures Manual, all Element data were recorded using AASHTOWARE Bridge Management Software (BrM) and submitted per KYTC standards.

Unique aspects of the work included:

• Utilized drones with FAA-certified pilots to supplement the inspections of the substructure units and deck surfaces, providing a unique perspective to better document the bridge’s condition;

• Used industrial rope access and fall-arrest techniques, where applicable, to minimize lane closures on the roadway above for the Hart County and Carroll County trusses;

• Load rated select gusset plates on the Carroll County Truss Bridge due to heavy deterioration and distortion;

• Performed visual inspection of the pin and hanger assemblies using mirrors to see between the plates on the Hart County Bridges;

• Developed or updated a framing plan of deficiencies for all of the bridges inspected. These drawings will provide clear documentation of defects for future inspections;