W91236-16-R-0004_Attachment_J-09_Underwater_Bridge_Inspections.pdf

1 February 2016

ATTACHMENT 9

UNDERWATER BRIDGE INSPECTION

1.0 Performance: Perform underwater bridge inspections for four Corps of Engineers Bridges on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in the years specified. The bridges are located at South Mills, North Carolina (Route 17A), South Mills Lock Culvert Bridge, North Carolina, Deep Creek (Route 17), and North Landing (Route 165), Chesapeake, Virginia.

2.0 Standards: All work shall be in accordance with the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS). All diving requirements shall be performed in accordance with the latest version of Corps of Engineers Safety Manual. The contractor shall provide as his own expense, all equipment, labor, licenses, permits, and insurance necessary for the completion of the contract.

3.0 Underwater Inspection: Thirty days before starting any diving, the contractor shall submit an electronic copy of their dive plan and an inspection schedule to Contracting Officer’s Representative. This plan will be reviewed and accepted by the District Dive Coordinator before work starts. Bridges with restricted access shall be addressed in the dive plan and include an exit plan for the divers.

3.1 The type of inspection shall be routine.

3.2 The contractor shall perform a thorough visual and tactile inspection of each bridge substructure unit and identify the substructure and foundation deficiencies and the need for any in-depth inspections of suspected deficiencies that cannot be identified by visual/tactile inspection (level I inspection).

3.3 Ten percent of the substructure elements shall be well cleaned of any marine growth to facilitate the inspection. Piles shall be cleaned in bands approximately one foot wide at the waterline, mudline, and midheight. Check all concrete for cracking, scaling, spalling and exposure and deterioration of any exposed reinforcing steel (level II inspection).

3.4 The inspections shall determine the condition of deterioration noted in the last inspection reports.

3.5 The inspection shall include depth soundings along the centerline of each of the bridges.

Soundings may be obtained using sounding poles or lead lines. Elevations shall be referenced to a point of known elevation (basic scour evaluation).

3.6 The channel bottom around the piers and abutments shall be probed and the presence size and condition of riprap shall be noted.

3.7 The inspection shall not interfere with the use of the waterway by boat traffic or the scheduled opening of the bridges or obstruct or interfere with the roadway or pedestrian traffic on the bridges.

3.8 Digital color photography shall be utilized to document the underwater conditions.

3.9 If in the opinion of the inspection team leader a dangerous or critical situation exists he shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

1 February 2016

4.0 Personnel: Qualifications of inspection personnel shall conform to the requirements of the NBIS and the following:

4.1 The engineer in charge of the inspection and preparation of the inspection report must possess the following minimum qualifications:

a. A registered professional engineer.

b. A minimum of 5 years experience in underwater structure inspection assignments in a responsible capacity.

4.2 The divers who will perform the underwater inspection shall be a certified diver meeting the requirements of the Corps of Engineers Safety Manual and at least two years experience in underwater inspection.

5.0 Reports: The bridge report format shall be the same as previous bridge inspection reports, a sample report will be provided before the inspections begin.

5.1 A separate report shall be prepared for each bridge inspected. The report shall include a description of the condition of the bridge substructure units inspected. Recommendations for repairs or further investigation shall be included as appropriate.

5.2 The report shall include plots of the channel bottom elevations.

5.3 Digital color photography shall be clearly labeled.

5.4 Four copies each report signed by the registered professional engineer responsible for the inspections shall be submitted. In addition, an electronic copy in .pdf of the reports will be submitted.

5.5 The inspections shall be completed no later 15 April of each scheduled year, and the reports shall be submitted no later than 60 days after the inspections are completed.