Bird's Eye View

High above a roaring spillway on a crisp, snow-covered February day, KCI’s Michael D. Gawel and David R. Clayton inspected the two-lane bridge carrying Prettyboy Dam Road over the Prettyboy Reservoir in Parkton, MD. The bridge, built in 1932 and rehabilitated in 1998, is one of 120 structures KCI is inspecting under a two-year, citywide bridge inspection contract with the City of Baltimore Department of Transportation. “We have three subconsultants providing inspection services for another 180 bridges, so we’re responsible for a total of 300 reports,” explained KCI Project Manager Michael K. Rice, PE.

KCI inspectors have been conducting field investigations since August 2003, using snoopers, bucket trucks, pontoon boats, rigging, and ladders to access the structures. “We performed some of the inspections at night and on the weekends to minimize impacts to commuters and travelers,” said Rice. “We also developed plans for redirecting traffic during the inspections, including the high-traffic I-83 corridor, and worked closely with AMTRAK, CSX, and Maryland Light Rail to make sure we didn’t impact rail operations.” Rice added that KCI divers performed underwater inspections of 20 bridges and assessed mechanical and electrical components of two moveable structures. The project team also revised the City’s bridge inventory maps, as part of the project.

The comprehensive reports, completed in accordance with biannual Federal inspection requirements, include a description of the bridge, inspection findings, photographs, stream soundings, a structural inventory and appraisal, repair recommendations and cost estimates.

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