Appendix A 

Sample Inspection Report 
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PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY 

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA 

REPORT ON THE 

INITIAL NBIS INSPECTION 

OF 

CHARTIERS CREEK BRIDGE 

BMS No. 02 7421 0000 9061 

Submitted By: 

Michael Baker Jr., Inc. 

Airport Office Park, Building 3 

Coraopolis, Pennsylvania 

15108 

September, 2000 
STRUCTURE B.M.S. NUMBER: 02 7421 0000 9061 

BRIDGE NAME: Chartiers Creek Bridge 

LOCATION: Crafton, Pennsylvania 

INSPECTION DATE: June 23, 2000 

INSPECTED BY: Michael Baker Jr., Inc. 

 Patrick A. Leach, P.E. 

 Charles L. Molnar 

PREPARED FOR: Port Authority of Allegheny County 

PREPARED BY: Michael Baker Jr., Inc. 

Written By: Joseph E. Salvadori, E.I.T. 

Reviewed By: Raymond A. Hartle, P.E. 

PORT AUTHORITY 

AGREEMENT NUMBER: 92-08 

OWNER OF BRIDGE: Port Authority of Allegheny County 

COST INFORMATION: Inspection & Report $3,108.00 

 Rigging $1,560.00 

 Traffic Control $ 0 

 Railroad $ 0 

 Insurance $ 0 

DATE SUBMITTED: September, 2000 

Raymond A. Hartle 
TABLE OF CONTENTS

I Location Map 

II Introduction 

III Inspection Findings

- Inspection Summary 

- Photographs 

- Drawings (Note – Drawings for this structure are not included here.)

- Forms D-450’s 

IV Structural Analysis 

V Recommendations And Cost Estimate 

VI Appendix 

- BMS Forms D-491’s (Note – Not included in this example.) 
Chartiers Creek Bridge 

BMS 02 7421 0000 9061 Inspection Date: 6/23/00 

Location Map

(No Scale) 

NORT

Chartiers Creek Bridge 
BMS 02 7421 0000 9061 Inspection Date: 6/23/00 

REPORT ON THE INITIAL NBIS INSPECTION 

OF 

CHARTIERS CREEK BRIDGE 

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY 

II. INTRODUCTION:

• Location

Located in the Borough of Crafton, the Chartiers Creek Bridge carries two (2) 

lanes of the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s West Busway over 

Chartiers Creek, and the Pittsburgh Industrial Railroad, Inc. 

• Year Built

The approximate date of the original construction of the Chartiers Creek 

Bridge is 1948. The structure was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad 

Company. Rehabilitation was completed in July 1997. 

• Load Posting

None required. 

• Description

The Chartiers Creek Bridge is a three (3) span, non-composite, riveted and 

bolted built-up plate girder bridge with a total length of 253’- 11” (see photo 

no. 1). The 3 spans consist of one (1) main simple span 124’-0”, one (1) 

simple south end span 55’-3”, and one (1) simple north end span 68’-3” long. 

The span lengths are measured between centerline of bearings. The skew 

angle measured between the centerline of the abutment and West Busway is 

900

. There are AT&T conduits mounted under the deck, and light poles 

mounted on top of the concrete parapets (see photo no.’s 8 & 2, respectively). 
Chartiers Creek Bridge 

BMS 02 7421 0000 9061 Inspection Date: 6/23/00 

The superstructure consists of four girders spaced at 7’-0” – 6’-0” – 7’-0” on 

centers, are laterally restrained with angle cross framing, and support an 

8 1/2” reinforced concrete deck. The deck thickness includes a 1/2” integralwearing surface. The deck measures 28’-0” between the reinforced concrete 

parapets present on both sides of the structure. Galvanized stay-in-place deck 

forms are present on the underside of the deck (see photo no. 8). 

Span 1 girders are made up of a 5’-11” deep by 1/2” thick web plates, and 18” 

wide by 3/4” thick top and bottom flange plates (see photo no. 8). The main 

span consists of a 10’- 4 1/2” deep by 1/2” thick web plate, and top and 

bottom flange plates varying from 20” wide by 7/8” thick, to 20” wide by 1” 

thick (see photo no. 9). Span 3 girders are made up of a 6’- 10 1/2” deep by 

1/2” thick web plate, and 18” wide by 3/4” and 7/8” thick top and bottom 

flange plates (see photo no. 10). New knee brackets, bolted to the fascia 

girders, measure 4’-9” wide, from the centerline of existing fascia girders to 

the centerline of the new W24x55 fascia stringers, with 1/2” thick web plates, 

and 6” wide by 1/2” thick top and bottom flange plates (see photo no. 4). 

Lateral bracing and diaphragms consist of angles, and angle x-bracing, 

respectively. Laminated elastomeric bearing pads are present at the girder 

ends. 

The main span vertical underclearance, from the existing concrete channel 

bottom, at the centerline of the railroad measures 60’-9” and 36’-7” in span 1. 

Gravity type substructures consist of a combination of original stone 

construction with newly constructed reinforced concrete abutment backwalls 

and pier caps (see photo no.’s 4 to 7). 
Chartiers Creek Bridge 

BMS 02 7421 0000 9061 Inspection Date: 6/23/00 

III. INSPECTION FINDINGS:

 

Michael Baker Jr., Inc. performed this initial inspection, which follows NBIS 

procedures, on June 23, 2000, via a UB-40 underbridge inspection crane. In 

general, the structure was in good condition with a few minor problems. 

Several conduits at the south abutment and in span 1 have severely buckled 

segments, and broken couplers and/or adapters (see photo no.’s 12 & 13). In 

addition, a conduit in span 3 is split and leaking water (see photo no. 14). 

These problems are due to the junction boxes being allowed to fill with 

rainwater during construction. 

Approach

The north and south approach roadway and slabs are newly constructed with 

no deficiencies noted. 

Deck

No deficiencies noted – new construction (see photo no. 11). All PennDOT 

Type 1 scuppers are in excellent condition. A few scuppers exhibit minor 

debris accumulation but are fully functional (see photo no. 15). Random 

hairline (< 0.01”) shrinkage cracks along the length of the concrete parapets 

are present (see photo no. 16). Deck expansion joints consist of strip seals in 

good condition with minor debris accumulation (see photo no. 17). 

 

Superstructure

The superstructure has no visible structural deficiencies. Girders, fascia 

stringers, knee brackets, and lateral bracing are newly painted. The paint 

shows no visual defects, but the girders and bracing exhibit evidence of prior 

minor section loss and member pitting. Fascia stringers and knee brackets are 

in new condition with no deficiencies noted (see photo no. 4). Diaphragms 

are in good condition, but show areas of freckled surface rust under the broken 
Chartiers Creek Bridge 

BMS 02 7421 0000 9061 Inspection Date: 6/23/00 

conduit in span 1. Approximately 50% of lateral bracing connections between 

girders 3 & 4, in span 2, were not painted with final paint coat 

(see photo no. 18). Laminated elastomeric bearing pads are functioning 

properly with no problems noted. 

Substructure

The north and south abutments are in good condition, with a few minor 

problems noted. Both abutments have newly constructed reinforced concrete 

backwalls, bridge seats, and wingwalls with no visual deficiencies noted (see 

photo no.’s 4 & 5). The stem tops consist of new reinforced concrete 

construction, also with no visual deficiencies noted, and are attached to the 

existing stone masonry bases. Some locations of the stone masonry show 

minor cracking and loosening of mortar. 

Piers 1 & 2 are in good condition with minor cracking and loosening of mortar 

on the existing stone masonry portion of the stems. The bridge seats, caps, 

and stem tops are newly constructed reinforced concrete with no visual 

deficiencies noted (see photo no.’s 6 & 7). 
Chartiers Creek Bridge 

BMS 02 7421 0000 9061 Inspection Date: 6/23/00 

Photo No.2 South Approach (near) 

Photo No. 1 General Elevation (Upstream) 
Chartiers Creek Bridge 

BMS 02 7421 0000 9061 Inspection Date: 6/23/00 

Photo No.3 North Approach (far) 

Photo No.4 South Abutment (near) - Elevation 
Chartiers Creek Bridge 

BMS 02 7421 0000 9061 Inspection Date: 6/23/00 

Photo No.5 North Abutment (far) - Elevation 

Photo No.6 Pier 1 - North Face (Looking South) 
Chartiers Creek Bridge 

BMS 02 7421 0000 9061 Inspection Date: 6/23/00 

Photo No.7 Pier 2 - North Face (Looking South), note 

electrical lines 

Photo No.8 General Underside View – Span 1 
Chartiers Creek Bridge 

BMS 02 7421 0000 9061 Inspection Date: 6/23/00 

 Photo No.9 General Underside View – Span 2 

Photo No. 10 General Underside View – Span 3 
Chartiers Creek Bridge 

BMS 02 7421 0000 9061 Inspection Date: 6/23/00 

Photo No. 11 General Deck View 

Photo No. 12 Conduit, Span 1 – note longitudinal 

crack/split 
Chartiers Creek Bridge 

BMS 02 7421 0000 9061 Inspection Date: 6/23/00 

Photo No. 13 Conduit and Couplers, Span 1 – note bend 

in conduit, and coupler separation

Photo No.14 Conduit , Span 3 – note conduit is split and 

leaking water 
Chartiers Creek Bridge 

BMS 02 7421 0000 9061 Inspection Date: 6/23/00 

Photo No. 15 Typical PennDOT Type 1 Scupper 

Photo No.16 Typical parapet crack 
Chartiers Creek Bridge 

BMS 02 7421 0000 9061 Inspection Date: 6/23/00 

Photo No. 17 Strip Seal at North Abutment (typ.) – note 

minor debris accumulation

Photo No.18 Lateral bracing connection between beam 

#3 and #4, in span 2 – note no final paint 

coat, and rust freckles 
Chartiers Creek Bridge 

BMS 02 7421 0000 9061 Inspection Date: 6/23/00 

IV. STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS: 

Bridge Load Ratings (Tons)

LOAD FACTOR H HS ML P 

Inventory w/o F.W.S 115 159 152 --- 

Inventory w/ F.W.S 112 155 148 --- 

Operating w/o F.W.S 191 265 253 346 

Operating w/ F.W.S 187 259 247 338 

Note: 1) Critical rating is for a beam controlled by shear in span 3 

2) Due to no analysis being performed as part of the inspection, the above table is reproduced from 

contract drawings. 

V. RECOMMENDATIONS AND COST ESTIMATE: 

Repairs 

Item Estimated 

Quantity Unit Cost Total Cost 

Drain junction boxes, and 

conduits filled with water. 

Repair bent conduits, and 

broken couplers/adapters. 

N/A Lump Sum $5,000.00 

Paint locations requiring 

final paint coat between 

girders 3 & 4 in span 2. 20 SF Lump Sum $1,000.00 

 TOTAL COST $6,000.00

Note: The above costs are only for the items listed and do not include additional costs 

which would be incurred when the work is performed, such as mobilization, maintenance 

and traffic protection, engineering, etc. 









Chartiers Creek Bridge 

BMS 02 7421 0000 9061 Inspection Date: 6/23/00 

Note: The Appendix section for this report is not included here. The BMS 

491 Forms for PENNDOT are that state’s version of the FHWA SI&A 

sheet with additional state items. The documents included in the 

report are typically red marked revisions to the file copy and reflect 

changes identified during the inspection.