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UDOT inspector outlines hands-on checks for Flaming Gorge and other Vernal-area bridges
Summary
A Utah Department of Transportation inspector described inspections of major bridges near Vernal, saying the Flaming Gorge arch requires a six-person team, specialized equipment and ultrasonic testing on cable pins, and that UDOT inspects all bridges longer than 20 feet.
A Utah Department of Transportation inspector described on-site inspections of major bridges near Vernal, saying crews must use specialized equipment and techniques to check structurally complex spans such as the Flaming Gorge arch bridge.
The inspector said the visit focused on "the bigger structures in this area" that carry freight into and out of the Uinta Basin and support tourism routes. "That bridge is also unique in that most of it is a half bridge," the inspector said, explaining one side is anchored to the mountain while the other relies on columns and girders; the portion over the spillway is a more traditional span that crosses the Green River.
Inspecting the Flaming Gorge arch requires a multi-pronged approach, the inspector said. "It takes 6 people to inspect that bridge," the inspector said. Crews bring an inspection crane and a man lift to reach undersides and the cable system, and another team crawls through the arches to perform ultrasonic testing on the pins that anchor the suspension cables.
The inspector acknowledged the difficulty of the work and noted personnel experience on the job: "Our newest inspector, Peter Hammond, he he went through the arches," the inspector said, adding that newcomers often want the hands-on experience.
The inspector also described river and site conditions that affect inspection methods. Vegetation can encroach on piers and walls, and while the Green River is "pretty shallow" in many spots, there are areas that are unexpectedly deep and swift; crews watch for scour and use cranes to access locations that are otherwise unsafe to reach on foot.
Passersby sometimes stop and ask about inspection frequency, the inspector said. The speaker told residents the UDOT bridge inspection crew "go all over Utah," checking every structure with a length over 20 feet. "If you're seeing a bridge in Utah, if you can drive across it, we've checked it, make sure it's doing well and make sure that it's safe," the inspector said.
The inspection description underscores UDOT's approach to maintaining freight and tourism corridors in northeastern Utah and the specialized teams and equipment required to assess large and complex bridges.
