Laserfiche WebLink
CONSULTANTS <br />Kittitas County Public Works utilizes consultants to complement work done by the County and fill in where <br />technical expertise is needed. This includes the use of consultants for on -call structural analysis and for <br />bridge inspection. Through the procurement process, Public Works solicits qualified consultants to be on <br />the on -call list. On -call work is typically under a two-year agreement. <br />FLOOD WATCH AND EMERGENCY ROUTE <br />In 2021, Public Works installed a water level sensor on the Charlton Road Bridge over Naneum Creek <br />(Bridge No. 98288). Since then, sensors have also been added to two additional bridges (Manastash Road <br />over Manastash Creek and Teanaway Road over the North Fork Teanaway River) and one irrigation weir <br />(Naneum Creek north of Bar 14 Road). Monitoring sensors at these four locations provide real-time data <br />transmitted via cellular or satellite networks to a public website. <br />These County -maintained sensors supplement gaging stations maintained by the U.S. Bureau of <br />Reclamation, which report real-time data and seven-day river forecasts developed by the National Water <br />Prediction Service. These gages are located on the Yakima River (downstream of Easton Dam, at Cle Elum, <br />at Horlick, and at Umptanum) and on the Teanaway River downstream of Teanaway Road. <br />This monitoring data aids in flood watches and may help identify flooding patterns and potential impacts <br />on downstream bridges. <br />LOAD RESTRICTED BRIDGES <br />Weight Restricted bridges are signed to inform the traveling public of the notice of maximum vehicle <br />weight a specific bridge can safely support. This helps to extend bridge service life by reducing the risk of <br />damage and potential failures. <br />Each NBI bridge is required by the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) to have a Load Rating <br />calculation. The Load Rating establishes how much weight the bridge can carry compared to a series of <br />truck configurations. A bridge which is unable to safely carry the full load of any of the truck configurations <br />is classified as a Load Restricted Bridge and is posted weight limited. Currently there are 18 bridges within <br />Kittitas County jurisdiction which are classified as Load Restricted. Appendix C includes a map and listing <br />of load restricted bridges. <br />Prior to 2017, there were three standard truck configurations which were used to calculate load ratings <br />on bridges. In 2017 eight new configurations were added for review. The additional truck configurations <br />are a result of new trucks that have been introduced by the trucking industry over the past decade. The <br />configurations vary by number and spacing of axles as well as overall vehicle weight. Kittitas County Public <br />Works completed a project to provide updated load rating calculations to include the new configurations <br />for each bridge. <br />For 2025 the weight limit for trucks is 105,500 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). New load ratings and <br />updates of existing structures are to include the WA-105 truck configuration. Funding opportunities to <br />Kittitas County 2025 Annual Bridge Report <br />