Bridges and Structures

General

  1. Review and familiarize yourself with the Plans, Special Provisions, appropriate manuals, standard and supplemental specs.
  2. Review field controls for horizontal and vertical alignment.
  3. Review utility installations and railroad company requirements.
  4. Check foundation for correct elevation, suitable bearing value, layout, and excavation requirements.
  5. Review topics located on the Bridge Office website to assist in inspection  http://www.dot.state.mn.us/bridge/construction.html .

Piling

  1. Check safety requirements (appropriate hearing protection).  Avoid standing near pile driving operations if possible.
  2. Check and document type, length, size, heat numbers, and condition of delivered pile.
  3. Verify delivered pile matches submitted Mill Test Report(s) and material was “Melted and Manufactured in the U.S.A.”
  4. Review subsurface boring log with Engineer and anticipate driving characteristics.
  5. Review Driving System Submittal of pile hammer, verify onsite hammer is suitable.
  6. Ensure the bottom of substructure elevation is correct.
  7. Confirm contractor’s pile layout for correct location.
  8. Review driving operation for proper hammer, fuel setting, pile cap, pile orientation, pile tip protection, pile splices, and bearing formula.
  9. Ensure any required welding is done by welders with a current AWS D1.1 welding qualification.  See Bridge Construction Website for Field Welder Qualification review document.
  10. Review and ensure bridge standard B-details for welded splices, located in the bridge Plan, are followed.
  11. Obtain required penetration and bearing; do not over drive piling. Contact Engineer if penetration varies significantly from Plan.
  12. Contact the Bridge Office Construction Unit with any questions regarding pile bearing capacity or related items.
  13. After driving of the piling is completed, check placement and alignment and inspect for pile damage from driving. Use a weighted tape measure to check imbedded pile length and to assure yourself that the pile has not collapsed.
  14. Complete Test Pile and Pile Driving Report in a reasonable amount of time (located on the Bridge Website).
  15. Send originals or copies of pile reports, to the Bridge Office or the appropriate owner.

References: Specification 2452, Bridge Construction Manual (Section .150), Contract Administration Manual, Schedule for Material Control.

Forms and falsework

  1. Inspect forms/falsework for construction dimension tolerances, cleanliness, quality and they are not  damaged and/or repaired correctly.
  2. Verify placement of forms/falsework for conformance with construction plans.
  3. When the falsework design may be critical, such as with slab spans, box girders, rigid frames, concrete arches, and cofferdams check the special provisions for detailed instructions.

References: Specification 2401, Bridge Construction Manual (Section .200).

Reinforcement

  1. Require proper handling, jobsite storage, and verify inspection tags.
  2. Review Plans for placement, projections, etc.
  3. Check condition, cleanliness, size, steel, grade, length, number, spacing, form clearance, support, bar ties, mat tie down, lap, and embedment clearance.
  4. Confirm or verify any adjustments such as cutting, spacing, and positioning with supervisor and/or bridge office.
  5. Check anchor bolt and conduit placement.
  6. If the reinforcement bars are cut in the field, then require the contractor to properly repair the cut ends with a two-part epoxy material recommended and supplied by the manufacturer.

References: Specifications 2401, 2472, Bridge Construction Manual (Section .250), Contract Administration Manual, Schedule for Materials Control.

Concrete placement

  1. Inspect mix. Check air content and slump as required. Make cylinders as required.
  2. Collect concrete delivery tickets and verify entries. Record any addition of water (be aware that there are limits to how much can be added).
  3. Be aware of time concrete was batched and allowable time for placement.
  4. Check forms during pour for maintenance of alignment.
  5. Check concrete placement and consolidation for segregation and/or over manipulation.
  6. Check for proper curing, cold weather protection, and finishing.
  7. Check backfill restrictions and requirements.
  8. Record such things as hours, equipment, pour location, volume, air, slump, and test cylinder data.

References: Specification 2401, Bridge Construction Manual (Section .300 and .350), Schedule for Material Control.

Beams and girders

  1. Make visual checks for in transit and erection damage, alignment tolerances, defects, and dimensional requirements.
  2. If not set in place on arrival, require proper jobsite storage.
  3. Review Plans and Shop Drawings for erection procedures.
  4. Review specification 2402.3F or 2405.3M if active traffic will be permitted to travel beneath beams prior to complete erection of all the beams and diaphragms in a span.
  5. Inspect bearing devises and girder seats.
  6. Check in-place alignment, camber, anchor bolt, and tie downs.
  7. Review field welding and bolting requirements.

References:  Specifications 2402, 2405, 2471, 2472 and the PCI Manual, Bridge Construction Manual (Section .350), Contract Administration Manual, Schedule for Materials Control.

Decks

  1. Review Bridge Deck Concrete Placement Checklist from Bridge website http://www.dot.state.mn.us/bridge/construction.html .
  2. Before beginning concrete placement, inspect all forming, falsework, paving, paving, and curing equipment for condition and adjustment. Check form for cleanliness and construction debris. Perform “dry run” with finishing machinery. Check bar steel clearances and deck thickness. Hold preplacement review with the contractor.
  3. Perform items listed under “Concrete Placement” plus the following:
    • During placement, continually check bar steel clearances and deck thickness, also observe deflection or movement of finishing rails and forms. Alert contractor if problems develop.
    • Maintain continuing “eyeball” surveillance of profile, slope, and flowline development as deck placement progresses.
    • Ensure that proper vibration and consolidation requirements are met.
    • Inspect straightedging, surface finishing, and texturing.
  4. Review curing procedures as well as cold weather protection.
  5. Record such things as pour location, volume, air, slump, problems encountered, and make necessary cylinders.
  6. Review requirements for saw cutting joints in the deck. If strip seal expansion devices are used, make sure the contractor removes temporary welds that hold device in place during concrete placement.

References: Specification 2401, Bridge Construction Manual (Section .358), Contract Administration Manual, Schedule for Materials Control.

Plant

Refer to Job Guide for Concrete Paving Plant.

Concrete deck wearing course

  1. Review Wear Course Placement Checklist and Timeline for Wear Course Placement Checklist from Bridge website http://www.dot.state.mn.us/bridge/construction.html .
  2. In general, follow applicable procedures for concrete paving and decks.
  3. Review and follow specifications and other contract documents for air content, slump, mixing, placing equipment, finishing equipment, temperatures, tolerances, curing operations, etc.

References:  Specification 2402, Bridge Construction Manual (Section .363), Concrete Manual (Section .450), Schedule for Materials Control.

PAINTING STEEL

  1. Review Painting Checklists from Bridge website http://www.dot.state.mn.us/bridge/construction.html .
  2. In general, follow Specifications 2478 and 2479.
  3. Ensure that the contractor submits the Quality Manual (QM) in a timely manner.  Review the QM with Bridge Office Construction Unit personnel to assure that it is comprehensive and complete.
  4. Ensure that paint color drawdowns are supplied by the contractor and approved by the Department Lab Director.
  5. Require the contractor to provide required information and measurements per the contract.
  6. Review the 2011 As-built contract language and provide the required information at the end of the project.

References:  Specification 2478, 2479, 3501, 3520. Bridge Construction Manual, Schedule for Materials Control, and Contractor’s Quality Control documents.