Bridges & Structures

Bridge Inspection

National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS)

National Bridge Inventory (NBI)

Load Rating

Scour

Policy

• Federal Notice: National Bridge Inspection Program Compliance Review Manual (09/13/2023)
• Federal Notice: National Bridge Inspection Standards Review Process (05/12/2014)
• Documentation and Treatment of Materials Stored Under a Highway Bridge (11/15/2023)
• Inspection Finding Follow-up Actions for Uncoated Weathering Steel Bridges (07/19/2023)
  • Presentation – Uncoated Weathering Steel Components July 19, 2023 FHWA Memorandum (07/26/23, .pdf, 1.7MB) [Recording, Passcode: krN!Z.00]
• Non-Destructive Testing of Fracture Critical Members Fabricated from AASHTO M244 Grade 100 (ASTM A514/A517) Steel (12/13/2021)
  • Presentation – Non-Destructive Evaluation of Fracture Critical Members Fabricated from AASHTO M244 Grade 100 (ASTM A514/A517) Stee (01/21/22, .pdf, 1.3MB)

Guidance

• Memorandum - Nonredundant Steel Tension Member (NSTM) Inspection Training (02/23/2024)
• Memorandum – Approval of Alternate Bridge Inspection Training Courses (09/06/2022)
• Memorandum – Inspection Interval Guidance (06/13/2022)
• Memorandum – Inspection of Nonredundant Steel Tension Members (05/09/2022)
• Guidance for Plans of Corrective Action (01/03/2017)
• Inspection of Bridges and Tunnels on Transit Highway (08/23/2016)
• Bridge Inspection Program Responsibility of the States (06/13/2011)
• Bridge Load Ratings for the National Bridge Inventory (10/30/2006)
• Funding for Bridge Inspection Equipment and Access Features (10/05/05)
• 23 CFR 650c Non-Regulatory Supplement Compliance with the National Bridge Inspection Standards (09/30/1992)
• Technical Advisory T5140.21 Revisions to the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) (09/16/1988)
• T 5140.31 Inspection of Gusset Plates Using Non-Destructive Evaluation Technologies (01/29/2010)

Resources

• Bridge Inspector's Reference Manual (BIRM - 2022 NBIS Version) (March 2023; .pdf, 120 MB)
• Bridge Inspector's Reference Manual (BIRM - 1995 Coding Guide Version) (September 2022; .pdf, 119 MB)
• Federal-aid Program Overview: National Bridge Inspection Standards Video (August 2012)
• Recommended Framework for a Bridge Inspection QC/QA Program (2009)
• Underwater Bridge Inspection Manual (June 2010; .pdf, 10 MB)
• Underwater Inspection of Bridge Substructures Using Imaging Technology (06/14/2018; .pdf, 11 MB)
• Underwater Bridge Repair, Rehabilitation, and Countermeasures Manual (April 2010; .pdf, 7 MB)

Conferences

Bridge and Tunnel Inspectors’ Conference - The biennial U.S. conference focused on sharing and advancing best practices and procedures of safety inspections of bridges and tunnels, and related engineering analyses and database management.