T-1 Steel Bridge InspectionServices

Project Description: The T-1 Steel Bridge Inspections and Repairs project involves emergency Independent Quality Assurance (IQA) services for inspecting bridges constructed with T-1 steel (AASHTO M244 Grade 100) fracture-critical members (FCMs). These inspections are performed on an "as-needed" basis to ensure structural integrity and compliance with FHWA Technical Advisory 5140.32, which mandates in-service inspection & NDT testing.

Scope of Services

Grit Force Inc currently provides a range of services in support of Caltrans for this statewide project, including:

• Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) of T-1 steel members utilizing methods like Ultrasonic Testing (UT), Phased Array UT (PAUT) and Magnetic Particle Testing (MT).
• Pre-job qualifications and certifications of contractors' NDT personnel following ASNT SNT-TC-1A.
• Field inspections to validate contractor's rejection reports and identify rejectable indications in T-1 steel bridge components.
• Post-job reporting and final evaluations after repair and remediation of components.
• Recommendations for remediation of fracture-critical components with coordination from the T-1 Steel Advisory Committee, including individuals from Structures Maintenance and Investigations (SM&I), Structure Construction, and METS.

Key Bridges Involved

• Whiskeytown Lake Bridge (District 2) & Lake Oroville (Canyon Creek) Bridge (District 3)
• Benicia-Martinez Bridge, San Mateo-Hayward Bridge and Carquinez Bridge (District 4)

Project Highlights, Cost Reductions and Taxpayer Value

• NDT Field Inspections: The Grit Force team performs real-time field inspections using advanced NDT techniques such UT and PAUT to assess the condition of fracture-critical members. These inspections are done to ensure the safety and integrity of T-1 steel members in tension.
• Inaccessible weld obstruction Resolution: Grit Force Level III and experts helped resolve over 100 inaccessible welds as well as helped develop special UT procedure to improve access around obstructions saving taxpayers in hundreds of thousands in additional remediation costs.
• SB1 Efficiencies: Grit Force team with use of microscopy help establish high level of confidence in NDT that allowed Caltrans to reduce from three layer to two layer and providing over half a million dollar in savings.
• Contract Cost Reductions: Grit Force utilized automated report generation tool as well as report tracking tools that eliminated need for 2 PY on the contract for two years, saving over million dollars on the contract.
• On-Site Verification: Grit Force provides owner verification (OV) services and assists Caltrans in maintaining quality assurance on-site.
• ASCE Award: Between all the efficiency initiatives and cost reduction strategies, documented saving of over $2M achieved for the taxpayers due to which contract received outstanding bridge project award.