Markets
Diagnostic Load Testing for Bridge Load Rating
Introduction Ask any bridge engineer and they will tell you that a load rating is only as good as the assumptions that it’s based upon. When evaluating bridges, load ratings performed using traditional analysis methods can sometimes be overly conservative and result in unnecessary load restrictions. Section 8 of the AASHTO Manual for Bridge Evaluation…
Read MoreBDI Awarded Colorado DOT Statewide Program-Specific Contract
Bridge Diagnostics, Inc. (BDI) is proud to announce our selection for the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) 2025 Statewide Program-Specific Contract for Bridge Ultrasonic Testing (UT), Pin Inspections, Average Daily Traffic (ADT) Counts, Scour Evaluations, and Load Rating Engineering Services. This multi-faceted contract highlights CDOT’s continued commitment to advancing the condition assessment and safety of…
Read MoreRed Cliff Bridge LLT
Red Cliff Bridge is a cantilevered steel arch bridge located near Red Cliff, Colorado. Towering approximately 200 ft over Eagle river, it is one of Colorado’s most iconic bridges and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1985. The bridge was completed in 1941 and has required significant repair and restoration…
Read MoreWanapum/Priest Rapids Automation
Wanapum Dam and Priest Rapids Dam, located on the Columbia River in central Washington, are hydroelectric dams which have operated since 1963 and 1961, respectively. The structures play a crucial role in the region’s power generation, along with supporting irrigation, recreation, and fish passage. Both dams are owned and operated by the Grant County Public…
Read MoreThe Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge
The Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge (Q Bridge) is a twin extradosed structure carrying Interstate 95 over the Quinnipiac River in New Haven, Connecticut. Since its opening in 2012, inspectors have noticed cracking in several areas of the bridge, including the tops of the prestressed concrete box girders, the faces of the cable-stay towers, and near cable anchorages at…
Read MoreSitka Bridge
Sitka Harbor / John O’Connell Bridge in Sitka, AK is a historic civil engineering landmark and one of the oldest cable-stayed bridges in the US. Under Alaska DOT’s inspection program, this structure requires a special in-depth inspection every decade. As part of the inspection team, BDI conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the stay cables. Our work included:…
Read MoreRestoring a Critical Link on the Alaska Highway
When a fuel tanker accident caused extensive fire damage to the Sikanni Chief River Bridge—a prestressed concrete bridge along the Alaska Highway in northern British Columbia—swift, expert evaluation was essential to restore safe passage on this key transportation corridor. Therefore, WSP engaged BDI to support the emergency structural assessment efforts following the incident. Our role was…
Read MoreProtecting a Medical Facility During Adjacent Construction
During a major construction project adjacent to the Oxford House at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), excavation activities raised concerns about potential impacts on the structural integrity of the building. To proactively address these concerns, construction contractor Robins & Morton engaged BDI to implement a real-time monitoring program designed to ensure the safety of the facility and its occupants throughout…
Read MoreEnhancing Flood Control Reliability at Waterbury Dam
During routine maintenance at Waterbury Dam, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) identified operational behaviors suggesting potential excess resistance in the gates’ trunnion pins. that raised concerns about the performance of the dam’s spillway gates. Given the critical role these gates play in flood control, ensuring reliability of the dam’s spillway gates was essential.…
Read MoreSupporting Miter Gate Maintenance on the Upper Mississippi River
BDI has partnered with the St. Paul District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to support ongoing maintenance operations at Lock & Dam sites along the Upper Mississippi River. In the winter, during the off-season for river traffic, these sites are dewatered on a scheduled cycle to allow for inspection and maintenance of key structural components,…
Read More