Bridge services

Guidance manuals

• LAG Manual chapter 34 - Local Bridge Program (PDF 667KB) - requirements for local bridge inspection programs and for selecting bridge projects to be funded using federal funds.
• Washington State Bridge Inspection Manual (WSBIM) - specific guidance, technical details and an informational source to both state and local agency staff related to bridge inspections within the state of Washington.

Federal guidance manuals

• FHWA Bridge Inspector's Reference Manual (BIRM) (PDF 153MB) - a comprehensive manual on programs, procedures, and techniques for the inspection and evaluation of in-service highway bridges.
• National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) - national standards for the proper safety inspection and evaluation of bridges.

Critical Findings

• In Washington State, a Critical Finding is defined as a structural or safety related deficiency that requires immediate action, typically necessitating closing, posting, or other bridge restriction. See WSBIM Chapter 6 for further examples of Critical Findings.
• Critical Findings must be reported to the Local Programs Bridge Engineer (LPBE) via phone or email within one working day of identifying the Critical Finding.
• Initial notification for a Critical Finding is followed up by completing a Critical Finding Damage Report (CFDR) within the BridgeWorks application for the identified structure. The CFDR initiation and subsequent updates are necessary for the documentation and tracking of critical structural and safety related deficiencies on damaged bridges.
• Refer to Washington State Bridge Inspection Manual (WSBIM) Chapter 6 for detailed information about Critical Findings.

Forms

• WSDOT Bridge/Tunnel Inspector Experience and Training Record (PDF 102KB) - WSDOT form 234-100 - the user will need to submit a completed form to the Local Programs Bridge Engineer in order to qualify as a Certified Team Leader as defined in Chapters 1 and 7 of the Washington State Bridge Inspection Manual.
• Scour Inspection Form (PDF 40KB) - the user will utilize this form to document the upstream cross-section of any water channel that intersects the bridge being inspected. The information contained on this form is required by the National Bridge Inspection Standards and is defined in Chapter 3 of the Washington State Bridge Inspection Manual.
• Level 1 Scour Appraisal Form (PDF 1.2MB) - WSDOT Form 722-011 - users can utilize this form to do a basic assessment of bridge scour potential and document recommended bridge scour codes as is required for all bridges crossing waterways. See Chapter 5 of the Washington State Bridge Inspection Manual for additional scour appraisal information.

Bridge classes offered by local programs

Courses and description for bridge training classes that are regularly offered each year by Local Programs Bridge Services.

View and sign up for current available training.

Bridge Condition Inspection Update (BCIU)

Offered: Yearly, in or around February
Description: Participants will discuss the latest Washington State Bridge Inspection Manual, BridgeWorks.Net bridge inspection software, bridge file records, bridge funding and other important bridge program issues.

Bridge Condition Inspection Fundamentals (BCIF)

Offered: Yearly, in or around February
Description: Provide basic knowledge of bridge condition inspection, construction materials, material properties, bridge components and nomenclatures, loadings, stresses and strains, and deterioration of bridge materials and members.

Bridge Condition Inspection Training (BCIT)

Offered: Yearly, in or around March
Description: This two-week course is based on the FHWA “Bridge Inspector’s Reference Manual” and will provide extensive training on the condition inspection of in-service bridges. Satisfactory completion of this course will fulfill the training requirements of the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS)

Bridge Inventory Coding

Offered: Yearly, in or around January
Description: This course is designed to provide knowledge of the requirements for the correct coding of bridges contained in the National Bridge Inventory.

BridgeWorks User Training

Offered: Yearly, in or around January (or as needed)
Description: This course introduces new users to the BridgeWorks inventory and reporting application. Participants can expect to have a brief introduction to the user interface and the Washington State Bridge Inventory System (WSBIS). The instructors will demonstrate the basic functions of the application including looking for information, creating and updating inspection reports, and submitting the data to the WSBIS.

Bridge Inspection Report Writing (BIRW)

Offered: Yearly, in or around March (or as needed)
Description:  This course guides bridge inspectors through the Routine Bridge inspection report writing process. Participants should be generally familiar with the BridgeWorks application and Washington State Bridge Inventory System (WSBIS). The instructors will go through the purpose of bridge inspection reports and offer tips and techniques for good report writing.