Bridge Condition Reports, Maintenance Recommendations, Bridge Damage Inspection/Evaluation, and Bridge Plan Review – Lancaster, Ohio

STONE conducted bridge inspections and provided bridge condition reports and maintenance recommendations for 13 bridges within the City of Lancaster. Existing bridge condition inspections were reviewed and used in the analysis of the bridges along with new site visits and inspections of each bridge. Reports were provided to the City Engineer to document the condition of each bridge and their expected remaining service life. Bridges were categorized according to the following classifications:

1. Bridge should be replaced within the next 5 years, immediate action required.
2. Bridge should be replaced in the next 5 to 15 years and long-term plans for funding and construction should to be made.
3. Need to replace bridge is greater than 15 years out.

Maintenance recommendations were then made in accordance with one of the following two categories:

1. Needed to extend service life of bridge for vehicular traffic.
Gave recommendations on maintenance that could be done to extend the service life of the bridge for vehicular traffic and an opinion of whether the costs of maintenance verses extended service life would be justifiable.

2. Needed to extend service life of bridge for pedestrian traffic.
Gave recommendations on maintenance that could be done to extend the service life of the bridge for pedestrian traffic, if applicable, and an opinion of whether the costs of maintenance verses extended service life would be justifiable.

For bridges where the City wanted to move forward with repairs, STONE prepared the Project Description, Details, and Specifications to provide to the contractor for bidding. Quantities for each items were prepared along with the bid form and the Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) plan.

STONE provided additional services when a vehicular collision to one of the bridges damaged a portion of its beam/deck/parapet. STONE determined that the load carrying capacity of the bridge was not affected but recommended repair of the damage to support the long term serviceability of the bridge.

On another project, STONE reviewed plans for a private bridge being proposed to the City which was located on a private drive leading to a large retail development. STONE reviewed the construction plans and provided redlines and a summary letter with comments and recommendations for alterations to the proposed structure.