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ODOT presentation: inspection program, NBIS compliance and state bridge ranking
Summary
ODOT staff briefed commissioners on bridge inspection standards, the department's compliance with federal rules and the state's improved ranking (number 4) for on‑system bridge condition after recent work and inspections.
State bridge staff told the Transportation Commission on Aug. 18 that Oklahoma meets or exceeds federal bridge inspection standards and that recent investments have improved the state's on‑system bridge condition ranking.
Jason Geebler, state bridge engineer, described the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) and associated requirements including inspection frequency (maximum 24 months for most structures), training and written reporting. He said ODOT maintains an inspection program manager, trained inspectors and a quality control program that includes calibration exercises for all inspectors.
Geebler outlined the element‑and‑component rating system used to determine condition: deck, superstructure and substructure for typical span bridges; reinforced concrete vaults and other buried structures receive single condition ratings. ODOT uses the numerical scale where good is generally rated 7–9, fair 5–6 and poor 0–4; structures reaching condition code 2 trigger a 90‑day critical finding requirement for repair or closure.
Geebler said Oklahoma now reports about 23,000 bridges in its inventory after replacements removed older entries from the historic 33,000 total. He noted that most bridges are inspected more frequently than the 24‑month maximum and that the department performs special inspections (fracture‑critical, underwater, damage response) and periodic load ratings.
The presentation addressed recent public attention to bridges and noted that Oklahoma improved from a lower ranking to No. 4 nationally for on‑system bridge condition; Geebler said 35 structures remained in the state's "SD" (structurally deficient) category at the time of the presentation and ODOT is tracking roughly 1,000 "at‑risk" bridges that could tip into that category on a subsequent inspection.
Commissioners thanked staff for the work and acknowledged legislative funding that supported the program. Geebler said the bridge data helps the department develop deterioration curves and prioritize preservation, rehabilitation and replacement projects.
