With more than 615,000 highway bridges scattered across the United States – along with almost 100,000 railroad bridges – bridge maintenance is a constant endeavor. There are numerous tasks that must be carried out both on a regular basis as well as periodically “as needed” when it comes to bridge maintenance. These include bridge repairs, […]
There are several methods for gaining under bridge access for bridge inspections. And, until the advent of the so-called snooper truck or under bridge access vehicle, these methods were somewhat tedious, inherently risky, and time-consuming. Today, thanks in large part to the introduction of the Paxton-Mitchell under bridge inspection and maintenance truck almost 60 years […]
While bridge inspection equipment can often be rented from various vendors, not every provider of these types of equipment are necessarily professional. It’s not unusual for some firms to rent equipment their staff are less than competent to operate or answer questions about. The problem that immediately arises for anyone looking for bridge inspection equipment […]
Hi-rail trucks are used for a wide variety of tasks on our nation’s railway systems. For those who may be unfamiliar with the term, “hi-rail” is short for highway-railroad and refers to the travel capability of specialized vehicles known as hi-rail trucks. These types of trucks are commonly used in the railroad industry. Hi-rail trucks […]
Americans in the United States pass over highway and other roadway bridges millions of times each day, almost never giving them much thought aside, perhaps, from the tolls on certain bridges. However, when a highway bridge experiences a major repair issue – or worse – drivers often take on a renewed interest in bridge safety. […]
There are many factors that affect and impact the implementation of regular highway bridge inspections and maintenance work. Among these are economic factors, legislative changes, social and political trends, as well as the more immediate influence of weather and meteorological events. In addition, increased traffic and the added stress and road this can create can […]
When it comes to the work required for highway tunnel and bridge repairs, there are two major requirements. These are the funding needed to finance the projects and the specialized equipment that must be used to provide the access needed for the work to be accomplished. Of course, there are several other required elements, such […]
America’s interstate and highway system has often been described as the lifeblood of our nation’s commerce. Upwards of 75 percent of America’s freight by weight is transported by trucks. The trucking industry earned almost $876 billion in revenue in 2021, and, as of 2020, there were about 900,000 employed truck drivers in the U.S. But […]
One of the fundamental aspects of transportation infrastructure maintenance is the regular, or routine, inspection of highway bridges. And an essential element are the various bridge inspection programs that are in place or being initiated by transportation departments across the country. In addition, bridge inspections are conducted on new construction as well as for various […]
Quality is a somewhat subjective term, but in certain fields and industries, quality is not only essential, but it is also a vital requirement. And this is especially true in the transportation industry. And as the Maryland Quality Initiative, or MdQI, puts it in its Mission Statement, the goal is, “To provide the Maryland transportation […]
