The County has the bridges inspected through the Bridge Inspection and Maintenance (BIM) System. The Bridge Inspection and Maintenance (BIM) System is an inventory and management system developed in the 1960s and 1970s by the Alberta Government. The reason for the inspections and the data management is to provide a coordinated system to ensure an appropriate level of safety for the travelling public. The province trains and certifies inspectors who fill out the forms and submit them for entry into the provincial database. The inspectors inspect structures, make recommendations, and notify the appropriate stakeholders or authorities if action needs to be taken. The inspections themselves are entered into the provincial database which is open to any individual who is involved in the maintaining or replacing of the bridges/culverts. The data can be used for planning, maintenance schedules, design, etc. (from the Alberta Transportation BIM manual).
A BIM is a visual inspection only. The inspectors are trained what to look at, what types of structures will show deterioration in which ways, but it is still just visual. If an inspector feels an element of a bridge or culvert warrants a closer look, they may recommend a more specialized inspection as a follow up. Due to the additional equipment and expertise required to perform the specialized inspections and often the need for additional personnel for safety these inspections must be done at another time. During the inspection’s deficiencies are noted and, in some cases, work to repair the bridge would be tendered out. As a structure ages, inspections are completed on a shorter cycle and the bridge may also have weight restrictions attached. This program has greatly extended the lifespan of the structures and reducing replacement costs.
Bridge inspections are used to update the 3-year Bridge Plan presented annually to Council and to provide information to compile the works necessary to produce the Bridge Maintenance Contract.
