MBTA

State of Massachusetts

PRIME is performing in-depth inspection, fracture critical inspection, and load ratings of the Needham Branch, New Hampshire Main, Newbury Port Ext., Bay Colony Freight, and Gloucester Branch Commuter Rail Bridges for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). PRIME was assigned 54 bridges in the first year of this three-year contract, and all of the bridges are to be inspected and load rated. This assignment also involves underwater inspection for nine bridges and one movable bridge inspection including mechanical and electrical components of the bridge. To date, all of the field inspections have been completed for the 54 bridges and the reports are being prepared.

All bridges were inspected and will be load rated in accordance with the MBTA’s “Policies and Procedures for the Inspection and Load Rating of Systemwide Bridges,” AREMA manuals including the “Bridge Inspection Handbook,” and FHWA’s “Bridge Inspectors Reference Manual” and “Manual for Inspection of Fracture Critical Members.” The bridges, which span waterways, highways, and cattle and pedestrian paths, vary in design and include pre-stressed concrete box beam, steel girder, steel beam, steel through truss, reinforced concrete box culvert, concrete arch, steel arch, and masonry arch. PRIME’s inspection staff was certified for all railroad safety and right-of-way training and provided all necessary traffic control to perform the inspections of the bridges in this assignment.

During the inspections, PRIME used bucket trucks, traffic control, ladders, rigging, boats, and waders, as required, to fully access the bridges. A significant amount of coordination was required throughout this project with railroads, vendors, local towns, etc. to obtain railroad flagmen, local town police officers, and daily scheduling. The load ratings will be performed in accordance with the MBTA and AREMA policies and procedures utilizing STAAD and SAP 2000 computer programs and will be based on the condition information collected during the inspection so that the ratings will reflect the current condition and account for any loss of section. The bridges will be rated for Cooper E-80, F40PH Modified Car, and 263 Rail Car.

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