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VERMONT AGENCY OF TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS DIVISION TRAINING ACADEMY BRIDGE CLEANING AND WASHING

VERMONT AGENCY OF TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS DIVISION TRAINING ACADEMY BRIDGE CLEANING AND WASHING. INSTRUCTOR: GARY SCHELLEY 828-0425. Why does Delta Dental pay 100% of our bi-annual teeth cleaning visit?.

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VERMONT AGENCY OF TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS DIVISION TRAINING ACADEMY BRIDGE CLEANING AND WASHING

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  1. VERMONT AGENCY OF TRANSPORTATIONOPERATIONS DIVISION TRAINING ACADEMYBRIDGE CLEANING AND WASHING INSTRUCTOR: GARY SCHELLEY 828-0425

  2. Why does Delta Dental pay 100% of our bi-annual teeth cleaning visit?

  3. Economic analysis has shown that preventative maintenance is much more cost effective than reactive maintenance. The old saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is true for bridges too. $$$

  4. What are we trying to prevent by cleaning and washing bridges? • Deterioration of the materials that make up the bridge • Steel – Prevent Corrosion (rust) • Concrete – Prevent Spalling and Scaling

  5. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO PREVENT

  6. What are some preventative maintenance activities used on bridges?

  7. Bridge Cleaning • Bridge Washing • Applying Water Repellent Treatment to Exposed Concrete • Installing a Bridge Deck Waterproofing Membrane • Painting Structural Steel

  8. Benefits of Bridge Cleaning • Loosens and removes built up and caked on debris • Removes accumulated sand & debris in a manner that it can be deposed of properly (Notin waterways!) • Saves on the amount of water used when washing

  9. Benefits of Bridge Washing • Rinses salt and sand from the bridge components • Insures the drainage systems are clear and functioning properly • Exposes deteriorated elements that may have not been evident so they can be evaluated for further repair

  10. WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO CLEAN AND WASH A BRIDGE? • Spring season is the optimal time for the following reasons: • Just after winter sand/salt applications have been applied and just before they have a chance to cake up or grow in with vegetation. • Salt corrosion capabilities increase with temperature, so it is important to remove material before warmer summer months. • Cleans out drainage before summer rains. • Reduces the number of months bridge has debris present that traps moisture on it.

  11. How Often Should We Wash Our Bridges? Ideally a bridge should be cleaned and washed every year in the springtime. Budget and resource constraints don’t always allow for funds to do the work this often. Therefore the Vtrans Operations Division performance objective is to wash 50% every year.

  12. What Materials Are Needed? Water is really is the only material needed to perform this work unless some minor repairs to the drainage system need to be done. Water can often be obtained from nearby Towns, or stand pipes installed by various fire districts. Rivers, lakes and ponds are also sources. But Districts must be aware of the potential for spreading unwanted invasive species.

  13. Some Potential Bridge Washing Water Sources May Have Invasive Species Present Avoid Them! Eurasan Watermilfoil Variable-leaved Watermilfoil Water Chestnut Zebra Mussels

  14. LAKES AND PONDS WITH DOCUMENTED INVASIVE SPECIEShttp://www.vtwaterquality.org/lakes/docs/ans/lp_aismapmajorspecies2009.pdf

  15. Tools of the Trade • Street sweeper, bucket loader, skid-steer, wheelbarrow, shovels, brooms, etc. for cleaning • Large capacity tank (5000 gallon or other) and tractor to haul it. A pump to fill the tanker, and a pump to spray - often the same pump. • Hoses and nozzles. • Traffic control devices (arrow boards, truck mounted crash attenuator (if available), cones, etc.) • Vehicles to transport personnel and equipment. • Sticks and poles for “punching” out clogged drains. But don’tpunch holes through fabric troughs at joints. • Repairs parts and materials for damaged drain systems. • Sand bags.

  16. GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR BRIDGE WASHING • SET UP A WORK PLAN FOR EACH BRIDGE SITE WHICH SHOULD ADDRESS (May be additional items): • Necessary Traffic Control • Fall Protection • Working On Ladders • Working Over Water • Working Near Power Lines • Working Near Railroads • Necessary Equipment And Tools • ALWAYS THINK SAFETY

  17. GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR BRIDGE WASHING(CONTINUED) • FOLLOW ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS • WASH FROM TOP TO BOTTOM ALL BRIDGE ELEMENTS • USE MECHANICAL ACCESS AS NEEDED • INSPECT BRIDGE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS • CONSIDER DRAINAGE SYSTEMS ADJACENT TO BRIDGE • ALWAYS THINK SAFETY

  18. Set Up Necessary Traffic Control • Set up all the necessary work zone sign packages on approaches in accordance with M.U.T.C.D. and Agency Standards. • If available, position a truck-mounted crash attenuator in advance of the washing operation. • Consider traffic and pedestrians below overpass structures • Where does the water spray land?

  19. Think Safety • Open tanker hose valves slowly. Too much pressure can cause you to lose control. Shutting the valve quickly could damage the pump. • Perform ladder work in teams. • Do not overload the bucket truck boom, staging, or ladder. • Do not climb on or lean over the bridge railing. • Do not stand on or walk on the bridge curbs. • If available, position a truck-mounted crash attenuator between you and oncoming traffic.

  20. Working Around Power Lines and Utilities • Know where they are! • Always assume they are LIVE! • Stay clear of them !

  21. Bridges Can Have Electrical Wires Attached To Them Too! • Keep Tools And Water Away From The Wires • Always Assume The Wires Are LIVE

  22. Washing Bridges Over Railroads Requires Additional Precautions • Railroad Worker Clearance Form is required anytime work takes place in railroad R.O.W. • Applies to using Servi-Lift bucket over the rails • Contact Operations Division Rail Section before washing any bridge over a railroad

  23. Follow Environmental Regulations Remove as much debris build up as possible before washing and dispose of in an approved manner. Debris is not allowed in the surface water system below.

  24. OFF THE BRIDGE, NOT OVER THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE!!! DEBRIS NO FLY ZONE

  25. Stormwater Regulations Sand bag the scuppers over waterways during initial washing, then remove and flush drainage system. Flushing will help to determine if scupper is functioning properly

  26. Stormwater Regulations DO NOT DO THIS!!

  27. Wash from top down and Use Mechanical Access As Needed Joint troughs, bearings, beam ends, bridge seats, pier caps, and all other areas that collect debris beneath the deck are critical and need to be cleaned and washed during this maintenance activity.

  28. Inspect Drainage Systems Use a sand bag as a Temporary dam to divert Water from draining into Surface water below Joint Scupper

  29. Clean those joint drain troughs!

  30. Flushing Trough Below Fingerplate

  31. STAY PLATES = DEBRIS TRAPS Trusses need special attention because they are Fracture Critical and Historical

  32. The alternatives to no maintenance

  33. Give me a call anytime with questions or comments. Thank you! Gary Schelley 828-0425

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