BRIDGE INSPECTION TECHNICIAN

Job Responsibilities

This position is accountable for detailed inspections of bridges and other structures throughout the district and compiles information needed to program necessary repairs to ensure public safety.  These duties are vital for fulfilling the requirements of the National Bridge Inspection Standards (N.B.I.S.) and the Element Level Maintenance Management System.  This position is also responsible for inspection of bridge painting contract work throughout the district. 

Continuing inspections:                                                  850
Underwater inspections:                                                110
Bridges requiring fracture critical inspections:               10
Annual inspections mandated by State and N.B.I.S.:    500
Value of bridge inspection equipment managed:           $100,000

This position reports directly to the Senior Bridge Inspection Engineer.  There are no subordinates reporting to this position. 

This position operates in an environment of analyzing and coordinating the specific equipment, supplies, and traffic control needed for each bridge to be inspected.  The incumbent must be able to operate and perform proper care and maintenance of all the specialized bridge inspection equipment.   

Typical problems include coordinating, managing, and planning for personnel and equipment to ensure the required inspection data is collected safely, accurately, and efficiently.  Access to many of the components of large bridges is also very difficult and at considerable height above the ground or water.  The work environment is additionally complicated with the presence of high-speed traffic on the deck, permitted utility attachments to the structure, and high voltage electric lines often above or adjacent to the structure.  Traffic control assistance is needed on a limited basis.  As such, specific needs for signs, barricades, cones, arrow boards and flaggers must be determined and scheduled.  The greatest challenge is the search and detection of deficiencies that affect structural integrity and capacity. The incumbent must also determine the reason for those deficiencies and suggest repair strategies. 

This position is responsible for organizing the bridge inspections, assisting in the preparation of the yearly bridge inspection schedule, conducting routine bridge inspections, sounding underwater areas around river piers, and obtaining river bottom profiles and elevations with electronic depth sounding equipment.  The incumbent must be aware of problems associated with welded bridges and capable of testing for flaws and cracks associated with welds and out-of-plane bending. The incumbent will participate in the field inspection of highway bridges and structures throughout the district.  

Job Responsibilities Continued

The incumbent must have a thorough knowledge of structure technology, nomenclature, and the ability to recognize structural problems in a variety of bridge types.  Thorough knowledge will help so that serious deficiencies can be properly analyzed and accurately reported.  Bridges and structures represent a significant investment of public funds.  Proper inspection helps to preserve this investment, to prevent structural failures and ensure the highest level of public safety.  The incumbent must be familiar with the many types of bridges to make critical observations of all bridge components and keep notes, take photographs, and make sketches as needed to record the required bridge data.  The incumbent must be able to establish the necessary traffic control in accordance with departmental standards to protect both motorists and the inspection team and to minimize interference with highway traffic.  The incumbent will assist in the preparation of forms and detailed bridge inspection reports as directed by the Sr. Bridge Inspection Engineer. The incumbent will serve as the Resident Technician for such contracts and in addition to day-to-day work inspection.  The incumbent will also be responsible for reviewing paint submittals, completing all construction documentation, and submitting hazardous waste disposal documentation to the Illinois Environment Protection Agency (EPA).  The incumbent will be acquainted with Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) traffic control standards and shall be able to ensure painting contractors provide safe work zones.   

The incumbent will be solely responsible for construction inspection of bridge painting projects within the district. The incumbent has the freedom in the performance of duties and will keep the Sr. Bridge Inspection Engineer apprised of any structural problems encountered.   

The incumbent has internal contacts with the district and/or the central Bureaus of Operations, Construction, and Bridges and Structures for accomplishing position accountabilities and responsibilities.  Externally, the incumbent has occasional contacts with local agencies, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), painting contractors, and the public. This position requires willingness to work in an adverse environment of weather, traffic conditions, and/or height. This position may require overtime and overnight travel. Successful completion of a background check is required. 

The effectiveness of the position can be measured by the accuracy of the work performed and the quality of the inspection reports.    

Principal Accountabilities

1.    Conducts visual inspection of bridges to seek out damaged or deteriorated components, providing records and photographs of deficiencies detected and makes appropriate recommendations for repair or further structural analysis.  Surveys include precise measurements and elevations of bridge components and stream or riverbed profiles and cross-sections.
2.    Conducts field inspection involving fracture critical structures, pin and link assemblies, underwater inspections, scour and special features.
3.    Prepares bridge inspection forms, reports, enters inspection data, requests reports and analyzes information from the Illinois Structure Information System.
4.    Serves as the Resident Technician for bridge paint contracts within the district.
5.    Operates and maintains a variety of expensive and sophisticated equipment.
6.    Establishes proper traffic control in accordance with departmental standards.
7.    Performs calculations in conjunction with the inspection and reports requirements.
8.    Performs duties in compliance with departmental safety rules.  Performs all duties in a manner conducive to the fair and equitable treatment of all employees.
9.    Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Position Requirements

•    Education/Experience

• Completion of two years of college in civil engineering technology, pre-engineering PLUS five years of engineering experience; OR
• Seven years of engineering experience.

•    Valid Driver’s License.
•    National Bridge Inspection Standards team leader qualification.
•    Ability to climb and inspect various types of bridges at various heights.
•    Occasional overnight and statewide travel.
•    Overtime is required.
•    Successful completion of a background check.

Position Desirables

•    Extensive knowledge of the basic principles of bridge design preferred.
•    Successful completion of AASHTO bridge element inspection training.
•    Minimum one year of experience in bridge painting inspection.