Culvert Inspection Program in California

By:

John Rizzardo, PE
Senior Transportation Engineer
California Department of Transportation
Maintenance Program, Office of Roadside Maintenance
PO Box 942874, MS# 31
Sacramento, CA 94274-0001
(916)654-3624

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is currently developing a pilot to study the benefits and needs for a culvert condition inspection program. This new program will identify needs for providing continuous, thorough inspections to preserve the State's investment in highway drainage infrastructure and the roadway and roadside infrastructure the culverts serve. These inspections will identify drainage and structural deficiencies to be addressed by major maintenance and capital rehabilitation/replacement contracts.

Culverts are water conduits that allow streams, brooks, and other flows to cross under highways. Corrosion, rust, abrasion or joint failures allow water to intrude the soil that supports the highway. In compliance with National Bridge Inspection Standards, Caltrans routinely inspects all bridges at least every two years. However, no formalized, routine inspection program exists for culverts to identify condition of individual culverts and note deficiencies and repair strategies. Left unchecked, the deficiencies ultimately lead to the sudden wash out of the highway and potential safety hazards to workers and the public.

Caltrans is interested in the national effort to inspect condition and inventory drainage facilities.