Rick Norrgard
is the Department Maintenance
Bridge Inspector. Minnesota
statutes require that all
bridges in the state be
inspected by certified personnel
at least every two years to
ensure that they are safe, able
to carry traffic loads and are
kept in good condition.
Annually, 134 bridges and large culverts are inspected, documenting the
condition of all the components
that make up each structure:
abutments, wings, beams, deck,
railings, etc. The annual
inspections monitor the
conditions of these items and
note any changes that trigger
cleaning, minor or major
repairs, reduction of load
limits, or closure of the bridge
and roadway. This also includes
inspections on large culverts or
groups of culverts.
