Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania - Harrisburg, PA
posted 5 months ago
The Department of Transportation is currently seeking a skilled individual to join their team as a Bridge Inspector. This position offers the opportunity to participate in a comprehensive 12-month training program within the District Bridge Inspection Unit. As a Bridge Inspector, you will assist the team leader in conducting thorough inspections of bridges and other structures, while also performing various technical tasks associated with the inspection process. Your role is crucial in ensuring the safety and maintenance of our infrastructure, and you will be expected to contribute significantly to the inspection and reporting processes. In this role, you will be responsible for performing or assisting with safety inspections on existing bridges, which will include examining various structural elements such as bridge members, foundations, supports, and components. You will inspect all structural components, including concrete footings, abutments, wing walls, bearings, back walls, steel beams, girders, truss members, pre-stressed concrete beams, timber construction, bridge decks, wearing surfaces, tension devices, approach slabs, relief joints, piers, bents, rivets, bolts, welds, and safety features like safety railings, guide-rails, approach roadway alignment, deck geometry, vertical clearances, and bridge signing. Your assessments will focus on identifying conditions that may indicate accident damage, water scouring of footings, wear or corrosion on pins, eye-bars, and other steel members, as well as the overall condition of bearings. Additionally, you will be required to measure bridge components, record clearances, sketch and document deterioration, and rate the condition of various bridge elements. You will assist in preparing comprehensive bridge inspection reports that detail the findings regarding the current condition and any identified deficiencies. Your responsibilities will also include conducting underwater inspections, crane inspections, and various deck surveys. Maintaining accurate bridge inspection records is crucial, and you will be expected to record data in systems such as BMS2 and iForms, as well as capture photographs and field sketches. Furthermore, you will play a role in maintaining the bridge inspection equipment and ensuring that the two-year inspection cycle is adhered to, which includes annual, semi-annual, crane, and special inspections. You will also inventory, inspect, and document the current condition and deficiencies of overhead sign structures, roadway retaining walls, and high mast lighting. Finally, you will be responsible for maintaining all required documentation mandated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for all state-owned structures.