Routine Inspection of Bridges

Routine inspection of bridges must be carried out to identify defects or signs of wear and tear
and same shall be reported to the designated official for rectification.

The checklist for inspection is given below:

Check List for Inspection of Bridges

1. General
1.1 Name of bridge/No. of the bridge/Name of lye river
1.2 Name of the Highway, Bridge Location

2. Type of Bridge-High level/submersible

3. (a) Dale of last such Inspection by

(b) Dale of last routine Inspection by
(c) Traffic Intensity PCU/T per day
(The latest census)

4. Approaches
4.1 Condition of pavement surface (check unevenness settlement.
cracking, pot holes, etc.)
4.2 Side slopes (Check pitched or unpitched, condition of pitching, any
signs of slope failure, etc.)
4.3 Erosion of embankment by rain cuts or any other damage to
embankment
4.4 Approach slab (check settlement, cracks movement, etc.) ·
4.5 Retaining walls (Check subsidence, tilling, condition of weepholes,
guard stone and railing)
4.6 Accumulation of silt and debris on submersible, approaches in cutting
and embankment
4. 7 Approach geometrics (check whether it satisfies the standards in
force)

5. Protective Works
5.1 Type (mention whether guide bund or protection around abutments or
spurs)
5.2 Check damage to the layout, cross section profile (check whether the
layout and the general cross sections are in order)
5.3 Check condition of slope pitching, apron and toe walls indicating the
nature of damage, if any (check for proper slope, thickness of
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pitching in the slopes, width and thickness of apron, erosion of toe walls,
etc.)
5.4
Check condition of f1ood protection works (if any)

5.5
Check any abnormal scour noticed

6.
6.1 Waterway
Check presence of obstruction, island formation, vegetation,
G.2 undergrowth, etc.
6.3 Check any abnormal change in flow pattern
Check maximum l1ood level observed during the year and mark the
same on the pier/abutment both on the U/S and D/S (Local enquiry, if
6.4 necessary)
Check signs of abnormal afflux from U/S & D/S watermarks on
6.5 piers, if any
6.6 Check adequacy of waterway
Check of erosion of bank
7.
Foundation
7.
Check settlement, abnormal scour, tilting, if any
7.2
Check cracking, disintegration, decay, erosion, cavitation, etc. Check
7.3
damage due to impact of floating bodies, boulders, etc.

Substructure (piers. abutments. return walls and wing walls} Check

efficacy of drainage of the backfill behind abutments (check functioning
8.
of weep-holes, evidence of moisture on abutment faces, etc.) Check tilling,
8.
cracking, disintegration, decay and other damages, etc. Check conditions
of side retaining walls like cracking, disintegration and seepage, if any (for
subways)
8.2
Check large excavations done in the road below in the vicinity of l1yover
or road over bridge of viaduct
8.3
Check damages to protective measures to pier and abutments (for
viaducts, l1yover and RO. Bs.)
8.4
Check damages to protective coating or paint
8.5

8.6
9.
Bearings
9.1
Metallic bearings (State types/Sliding plate/Rocker Roller/PTFE/
Pol bearings
9.1.1
·Check general condition (check rusting, cleanliness, seizing of
plates), silting, accumulation of dirt in case of submersible bridges.
9.1.2
Functioning (check excessive movement, tilting, jumping off guides)
9.1.3
Greasing (check date of last greasing/oil bath and whether to be
redone or not)
9.1.4 Effectiveness of anchor bolts (check whether they are in position and
tightened)
9.1.5
Check for unlocking/removal of the packing strip provided in case
of metallic roller/rocking bearings for their smooth functioning

9.2 Elastomeric bearings (Stale numbers)

9.2.1
Check condition of pads (oxidation, creep, flattening, bulging,
splitting, displacements, if any)
9.2.2 Check general cleanliness

9.3 Concrete bearings

9.3.1 Check any signs of distress (cracki11J.'. spalling, disintegrating
staining, dishing, etc.)
9.3.2 Check any excessive shifting
9.3.3 Check loss of shape
9.3.4 Check general cleanliness
9.4 Check cracks, if any in supporting member (abutment cap, pier cap,
pedestal)
9.5 Condition of d/s stoppers (for submersible bridges)

10. Superstructure
10.1 Reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete members
10.1.1 Check spalling, disintegration or honey-combing (special attention
to be given at points of bearings)
10.1.2 Check cracking (pattern, location, explain preferably by photograph
and plotting on sketch. A map of the cracking should be produced.
The size and distribution of cracks and their penetration should be
noted)
10.1.3 Check exposed reinforcement, if any
10.1.4 Check wear of deck surface
10.1.5 Check scaling (This is gradual and continuous loss of surface mortar
and aggregate over irregular areas)
'
,
J0.1.6 check surface stains and rust stains along with the locations
l 0.1. 7 Check Leaching (Effects are most usually evident on the soffits of
decks)
10.1.8 Check corrosion of reinforcements, sheathing and tendons, if visible
10.1.9 Check leakage (Leakages of waler can lake place through concrete
decks, construction joints or thin component sections of the deck
viz., Krebs, etc.)
10.1.10 Check damages, if any due to moving vehicles
10.1.11 Check condition of drainage system (spouts, collection pits, grating,
etc.)
10.1.1 Check condition of articulation (cracks, exposed reinforcement, if
2 any)
Check excessive vibrations, if any
10.1.1 Check excessive deflections (sag) or loss of camber, if any al same
3 point each time
10.1.1 Check cracks, if any, around anchorage zone for prestressed concrete
4 · members
Check excessive deflection (sag) al central hinge, lip of cantilever for
10.1.1 cantilever bridge
5 In box girders, the interior faces of flanges and webs need to be
examined for signs of cracking and report excessive accumulation of
l 0.1 .
water or debris. Interior diaphragms will also require examination,
16
particularly for any signs of cracking al Their junction to the webs
10.1. Check accumulation of silt and debris on surface of deck (for
17 submersible bridges)
Check peeling off of protective coat or paint

Check Steel Members

10.1.1 Check condition of protective system
8 Check corrosion, if any
Check excessive vibrations, if any
10.1.1
Check alignment of members
9
Check condition of connection (adequacy, looseness of rivets, bolls
10.2 or worn-out welds, specially on connection of stringers to cross
10.2.1 girders, cross girders to main girders, gussets or splices, condition of
hinges, splices, etc.)
10.2.2
10.2.3 Check excessive loss of camber and excessive defections and
10.2.4 deformations, if any
Check buckling, kinking, warping and waviness
10.2.5
Check on the cleanliness of members and joints (check choking or

10.2.6

10.2.7
10.2.8
 drainage holes provided in the bottom booms)
10.2.9 Check apparent fracture, if any
10.2.10 Check excessive wear (such as in pins in joints of truss) and their
locations requiring close monitoring
10.2.11 Check conditions inside the closed members

10.3
Check masonry arches
10.3.1
Check condition of joints mortar, painting, masonry. etc.
10.3.2
Check Profile, report f1atlening by observing rise of the arch al
center and quarter points
10.3.3
Check cracks, if any, (indicate location, pattern, extent, depth;
explain by sketches)
10.3.4
Check drainage of spandrel fillings (check bulging of spandrel walls,
if any)
10.3.5
Check growth of vegetation
10.4
Check all Cast Iron/Wrought Iron Components
10.4.1
These materials occur in older bridges and the defects which they
exhibit are in general very similar to those described above for steel.
It should be recognized that the homogeneity and purity of the
material will not be up to the present day standards of steel, as such
the inspection process has to lake into account the variability of
materials (Blow holes and cracking are probably the main defects
that occur during the casting of the metal and its cooling)

11. Expansion Joints

1 l. 1 Functioning (cracks in wearing course, existence of normal
gap, excessive noise, etc.)
11.2 Check condition of sealing material (for neoprene seating material,
check for spilling. oxidation, creep, f1allening, bulging and for
bitumen filler, check for hardening, cracking, etc.)
11.3 Check secureness of the join ls
11.4 Top sliding plate (check corrosion, damage to welds, etc.)
11.5 Locking of joints (check locking of join ls especially for finger type
expansion joints)
11.6 Check for debris in joints
11. Report rattling, if any
7 Check drainage for expansion joint
11.8 Check alignment and clearance
11.9
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l2. Wearing Coat [Concrete/Bitumen)
l2. l Check surface condition (cracks, spalling, disintegration, pol holes,
etc.)
12.2 Check evidence of wear (Tell-Tale rings, check for thickness as
against actual thickness, check data of last inspection)
l2.3 compare additional thickness with design thickness, with reference
to kerb height

13. Drainage spouts and Vent Holes

13. l Check clogging, deterioration and damage, if any
13.2 Check the projection of the spout on the underside (see
whether structural members are being affected)
13.3 Check adequacy thereof
13.4 For subways report about adequacy of drainage and pumping
arrangements, etc.
13.5 For submersible bridges, report on functioning

14. HANDRAILS AND PARAPETS

14.1 Check general condition (check expansion gaps, missing parts, if
any, etc.)
14.2 Check damage due to collision
14.3 Check alignment (report any abruptness in profile)

15. FOOTPATHS
15. l Check general condition {damage due to mounting of vehicles)
15.2 Check missing footpaths slabs
15.3 Cleanliness of ducts along footpaths

16. UTILITIES
16.1 Check leakage of water and sewage pipes
16.2 Check any damage by telephone and electric cables
16.3 Check condition of lighting facilities
16.4 Check damages due to any other utilities

17. BRIDGE NUMBER

17. l Check condition of painting

18. ENVIRONMENT
Check for signs of aggressiveness
19. AESTHETICS
19.1 Check any visual intrusion, hoardings, vegetation on structural
members, etc.
19.2 Check whether all actions for maintenance and repairs recommended
during last inspection have been done or not (give details)

20. MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT RECOMMENDATION

S. No. Item needing Action Time by which to Remarks

attention recommended be completed

21. Certificate to be accorded by the inspecting official.

Certified that I have personally inspected this bridge.

Date
Signature o f the Inspecting
Duration of Inspection
Officer
From AM/PM
TO AM/PM
Method of Inspection