2026-02-23-minutes-public-works-study-session

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INSPECTION PROGRAM, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Bridge inspections are performed in accordance with the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) and Title 23 CFR 650.3. The standards mandate that all public agencies with a bridge inventory inspect and report the findings at a minimum of once every 24 months (routine inspection). Special inspections are required for bridges that cannot be given close or adequate inspections from the ground. Steel bridges with non -redundant steel tension members (NSTM), previously known as fracture critical members, may also require special inspections with specialized equipment. Another category of special inspections includes Underwater inspections which are required every five years for bridges with piers that extend below ordinary low-water levels. The inspector uses these standards to document the current condition of each bridge element listed. The deficiencies are coded to the NBIS and show degree of deterioration in various bridge elements. The three primary bridge elements are the deck, superstructure, and substructure. As deterioration accelerates, the coding values are adjusted accordingly. In a case where the coding factors are extremely low, recommendations are made for replacement or rehabilitation of the structure. Starting in 2026, the 2022 Specifications for the National Bridge Inventory (SNBI) will determine the NBI data reported to FHWA. With this change, an Overall Bridge Classification Rating will be assigned referencing a bridge's current condition of Good, Fair, or Poor. This overall classification rating replaces the previously used Sufficiency Rating score that determined the overall health of the bridge. As of December 31, 2025, Kittitas County has 51 bridges rated as Good; 55 bridges rated as Fair; and 7 bridges rated as Poor included in the NBI. Bridges with identified deficiencies may be inspected or monitored at more frequent intervals. The results of our inspection program are forwarded to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Local Programs Office for review. Once the report has been reviewed by WSDOT, it is available for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and others to use. A copy of all final inspection reports is maintained on file at Kittitas County Public Works. The bridge inspection program recognizes that with limited funding, it is important to identify trends that are affecting the deficiencies of our bridge structures, such as age and materials used in construction. Kittitas County Public Works continually applies for available grant funds to assist with bridges that are eligible for Federal Highway Bridge Program funds and Surface Transportation Block Grant program funds as well as other sources. County bridges not eligible for Federal funds, such as short -span bridges 20-feet in length or less, have their replacement/rehabilitation needs prioritized by Public Works staff, based on resource availability, and the County Commissioners' authorization to fund the project in the Six Year Transportation Improvement Plan. Similarly, for maintenance, repair, and minor rehabilitation work, prioritization is based on County bridge maintenance funds and staff availabilities. Kittitas County does not have any bridges on designated truck freight routes with a T-1 or T-2 classification. T-1 freight routes are defined as carrying more than 10 million tons peryear. T-2 freight routes are defined as carrying more than 4 million and less than 10 million annual gross tonnage and serve as a portion of the State transportation network. Kittitas County 2025 Annual Bridge Report