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County faces higher bridge inspection costs as federal element‑level requirement arrives; culvert inventory bid rejected
Summary
Engineering reported element‑level bridge inspection requirements and a single bridge inspection bid of about $95,000; staff recommended rejecting an expensive culvert inventory bid of roughly $217,360.
County engineering presented results from a March 11 bid opening for bridge and culvert inspection services. Staff said the new federal requirement to perform element‑level inspections by January 2028 increases inspection time per structure, and that change is driving higher costs.
Two outcomes from the bid opening: a culvert‑inspection alternate returned about $217,360 to inspect roughly 2,717 culverts (about $80 per culvert); staff recommended rejecting the culvert bid and exploring internal or phased approaches. For bridges, Call Valley was the lone bidder at approximately $95,000 for 237 bridges — higher than the $40,000 typical cost in prior years. The higher bridge price reflects longer on‑site time for element‑level inspections and additional deliverables, including a required plan of action for 10 weathering‑steel structures.
Staff described weathering‑steel structures as requiring special attention and a plan to describe whether they will be preserved (painted/coated) or otherwise managed. Commissioners discussed that funding exists in the special‑bridge fund to cover higher inspection costs.
Ending: Staff recommended accepting the bridge inspection bid to meet the federal timeline while rejecting or reworking the culvert scope; commissioners asked staff to return with options for culvert inventory management if they reject the bid.
