| Maine’s DOT Bridge Inspectors Continuously
Working at Keeping Bridges Safe
John Buxton, MaineDOT’s
lead bridge maintenance engineer, and David Cole, Commissioner of the DOT, are told by
Governor John Baldacci that the state will make any changes necessary to continue to make
bridges safe.
By Ramona du
Houx
In August
Governor John E. Baldacci inspected the Augusta Memorial Bridge with engineers from the
Maine Department of Transportation and asked to be taken on a catwalk tour under the
bridge.
"These
bridges are safe," said Governor Baldacci, after speaking with John Buxton,
MaineDOT’s lead bridge maintenance engineer, and Scott Harris, the State’s lead
bridge inspector of twenty-six years. "I wanted to see firsthand what it is the
engineers look for and better understand the job that they do. They’ve done a great
job reacting to a terrible tragedy and making sure our bridges are safe. I was comforted
by the expertise of the workforce and their commitment."
The Augusta
Memorial Bridge is one of six "deck truss" bridges in Maine, which are of the
same structural type as the bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis in August. Upon hearing
of the collapse, Harris called into the DOT to find out how he could help reassure the
people of Maine.
All of
Maine’s deck truss bridges have now been re-inspected. The rating is nine points.
Only a new bridge gets a nine; a year-old bridge an eight. Augusta received a six, due to
a need to repaint the structure.
"It’s
in good shape. Things were as good as we would expect," said Buxton. "I want to
stress that all of these bridges are safe."
On August 2nd
Governor Baldacci signed an executive order directing MaineDOT to review its bridge
inspection program to ensure it continues to meet or exceed all applicable federal
standards.
"We’ve
looked at the bridges to make sure they’re safe," said Baldacci. "Now
we’re going to inspect the inspection program and make sure it’s as effective as
possible." The governor promised that after a full review of the recommendations, he
would give the DOT the tools they need to make sure Maine’s bridges remain safe.
Maine has over
3,700 bridges, of which about 1,500 are more than 50 years old. During the Depression in
the ’30s, there was a massive employment scheme to put people back to work;
that’s when a lot of the state’s bridges were constructed.
Only 14 bridges
are replaced annually; the state would like to do at least 32.
"Safety
comes first," said Commissioner David Cole. "With over 3,000 bridges in Maine,
we have an aggressive inspection program."
According to
Harris, there is not a workday that goes by when a bridge somewhere in Maine is not
inspected. Inspectors document the joints, plates, trellises, and other areas of the
structure with a digital camera when they walk the catwalks, or they inspect using a crane
and then make a detailed report of their findings.
Bridge
inspector Jamie Hannum explained that they constantly upgrade the bridges with new
technologies.
"We actually like it when we find something that needs repair,"
said DOT bridge inspector Scott Harris. "That’s our job." Like detectives,
they search out problems. They look at everything that could have an effect on the health
of the bridge. In one instance, salt caused erosion on the Augusta Bridge. The inspectors
pointed to a funnel that was put in place to move the grit from the roads off the bridge,
stopping the erosion.
"When we identify a
problem, we work together and find an appropriate solution," said bridge inspector
Jamie Hannum, who is also a member of the DOT’s dive inspecting team. "Most of
the damage happens underwater." Currents and storms eat away at the foundations of
the bridges, pulling the dirt out from under a bridge, which could lead to a collapse. The
dive team works in all seasons. After large storms, they become part of the state’s
emergency response team.
These dedicated workers
understand all too well the responsibility placed on their shoulders.
"We take
ownership of our work," said Hannum. "Working together with people you enjoy
being with is a great plus. We are a team."
"We’re
lucky that we have the expertise of such well-qualified engineers," said Baldacci.
|
