The Importance of Bridge Inspections

Many dangerous bridge related accidents in the US were completely preventable. Incidents like the collapses of the Fern Hollow Bridge in 2022, the Mianus River Bridge in 1983, and the Silver Bridge in 1967 were not due to a collision, accident, or even negligence in the design. The routine wear and tear of decades of service caused weaknesses that went unnoticed and eventually caused a structural failure. Even the most well-made bridges require regular inspections and maintenance to remain safe and reliable. It is easy, especially for private bridges, to overlook this need, but all bridges require basic care for the owner’s legal, physical, and financial safety.

Firefly cove bridge during a due diligence inspection after hurricane Helene

While the NCDOT has two-year inspection schedule for their own bridges, it does not maintain bridges that are privately owned and considers them to be the responsibility of the owner. While the NCDOT recommends regular assessments, private bridge owners aren’t notified or informed of that when purchasing land with a bridge. Sometimes bridge owners aren’t even aware of the need for regular inspections. This can leave obsolete bridges in use without any maintenance for far longer than they should be. While private bridges are smaller and less traveled, it is just as necessary to keep them inspected given the reliance that homeowners have on them.

A bridge owned by Rumbling Bald that was washed out during a storm

Collapses can occur during routine use, but they can also occur during emergencies, including storms, and no matter what, the results of a collapse are devastating. Bridges that might have been able to weather a storm if they had been maintained could suffer catastrophic damage. A collapsed or damaged bridge can trap families when they need to evacuate. Driving over a poorly maintained bridge can endanger not just vehicles but lives. Even in cases where the bridge collapses during routine wear with no one driving over it, the failure can be devastating since normal tasks like getting food or going to work might be impossible. Even in cases where no one is hurt or trapped, the owner must bear the costs of repair or of a new bridge. No matter what, bridge failures are devastating.

repairs underway for a bridge owned by Tessentee woods POA

The easiest way to avoid bridge failures is routine inspections and maintenance. During an inspection, engineers can find potential problem areas and can recommend what needs to be repaired or replaced. Inspections also allow potential problem areas to be monitored and documented so that later repairs and maintenance can be prioritized. They can also help protect private owners against lawsuits if there is an accident and a bridge collapse causes injury by providing proof of due diligence. With an inspection every two years, it’s possible to avoid many catastrophic bridge failures before they occur.

Bridge inspection is one of Alpha & Omega Group’s foundational services. If you or someone you know has a bridge on their property that requires inspection, be sure to contact us!

If you want to learn more about our inspection work with private and publicly owned bridges, please see our work at Camelot Village, Tessentee Woods, and NCDOT.