Bridge Inspections

Bridge Inspections in Florida

Licensed Structural Engineers for Bridge Safety, Load Ratings & Forensic Evaluations

EMA Structural Forensic Engineers are Florida-licensed professionals providing bridge inspection, assessment, and forensic evaluation services for state, municipal, and private infrastructure.
From Orlando to Tampa, Jacksonville, and Daytona Beach, our engineers deliver accurate, data-driven reports that ensure safety, compliance, and long-term structural reliability.

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⚙️ What Is a Bridge Inspection?

A bridge inspection is a detailed structural evaluation that determines the condition, serviceability, and safety of bridge components.
Inspections are performed under FHWA, FDOT, and AASHTO standards to identify deterioration, corrosion, or damage before they compromise safety.

EMA’s certified inspection engineers perform:

• Routine Bridge Inspections (NBIS / FDOT)

• Fracture Critical & Underwater Inspections

• Load Rating & Capacity Analysis

• Post-Storm or Collision Damage Assessments

• Forensic Engineering for Failure Investigation

• Bridge Repair, Rehabilitation, and Retrofit Recommendations

Each inspection includes photographic documentation, structural rating, and engineer-sealed reports accepted by municipalities and regulatory agencies.

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🧰 Our Bridge Inspections Process

1. Planning & Access Review

   • Evaluate bridge type, access needs, and safety protocols.

2. Field Structural Inspection

   • Visual and physical assessment of deck, girders, piers, bearings, abutments, joints, and foundations.

3. Data Collection & Analysis

   • Record material conditions, distress mapping, and deflection measurements.

4. Engineering Evaluation

   • Analyze load capacity, fatigue, and potential structural deficiencies.

5. Engineer-Stamped Report Delivery

   • Detailed findings, photos, and maintenance recommendations in a PDF report ready for FDOT or owner review.

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🏗️ Types of Bridges We Inspect

• Highway & County Bridges

• Pedestrian & Bicycle Bridges

• Concrete, Steel, and Timber Structures

• Culverts and Box Girder Bridges

• Private & HOA Bridge Crossings

• Storm-Damaged or Post-Event Inspections

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🌪️ Post-Storm & Emergency Bridge Inspections

Florida’s climate subjects bridges to flooding, scour, wind, and corrosion. EMA provides rapid response inspections after hurricanes or storm surges to verify stability, record damage, and assist in FEMA and insurance documentation.

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🏙️ Service Areas

EMA serves all of Florida with dedicated regional teams in:

Central Florida: Orlando, Kissimmee, Winter Park, Sanford
North Florida: Jacksonville, Gainesville, St. Augustine
Gulf Coast: Tampa, Clearwater, Sarasota, Lakeland
East Coast: Daytona Beach, Melbourne, Palm Coast
South Florida: West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami

(Statewide emergency inspections available 24/7.)

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🧾 Why Choose EMA Structural Forensic Engineers

• Florida-Licensed Professional Engineers (P.E.)

• NBIS & FDOT-Compliant Bridge Inspection Experience

• Forensic Structural Experts with 20+ Years’ Experience

• Drone & Sensor-Based Inspections for Hard-to-Reach Structures

• Rapid Turnaround on Reports & Compliance Documentation

EMA delivers precision, accountability, and engineering integrity — trusted by municipal agencies, contractors, and property owners statewide.

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📞 Contact Us Today (NAP)

EMA Structural Forensic Engineers
📍 Serving Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville & Daytona Beach
📞 (321) 355-6052
✉️ info@emaengineers.com

 

What Is a Bridge Inspection?

A bridge inspection is a professional evaluation of a bridge’s physical and structural condition. It involves examining components like beams, decks, piers, abutments, joints, and foundations for:

• Cracks or spalling

• Corrosion or rust

• Load-bearing damage

• Foundation settlement

• Impact or storm damage

Bridge inspections are required regularly by federal and state laws to ensure public safety and infrastructure integrity.

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Types of Bridge Inspections We Offer

 Routine Inspections

Performed on a regular schedule (typically every 2 years), following FHWA guidelines and NBIS requirements.

Special and Emergency Inspections

After extreme events like floods, earthquakes, collisions, or hurricanes.

Underwater Inspections

For bridge piers and foundations submerged in water, performed using sonar, divers, or ROVs.

Fracture-Critical Member (FCM) Inspections

Inspection of critical components that would cause bridge failure if compromised.

Load Rating and Capacity Evaluation

Assessing the safe load-carrying capacity of bridges using modeling and structural analysis.

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Wht We Inspect

We evaluate all types of bridges, including:

• Highway and road bridges

• Railroad bridges

• Pedestrian and cycling bridges

• Industrial and private bridges

• Temporary modular or construction bridges

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 Our Inspection Process

1. Pre-inspection planning & access coordination

2. On-site structural observation and photo documentation

3. Use of drones, lift equipment, and NDT (non-destructive testing)

4. Engineering analysis and safety assessment

5. Comprehensive reporting and compliance documentation

📄 All reports are signed and sealed by licensed Professional Engineers (P.E.) and meet DOT or state transportation agency guidelines.

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Why Choose EMA Engineers?

• 🏗️ 30+ years of structural engineering expertise

• 🧰 FHWA & DOT inspection compliance

• 📸 Drone-enabled high-resolution inspections

• 🔎 Fracture-critical and underwater expertise

• ⚖️ Legal, insurance, and municipal applications

• ✅ Nationwide service across the U.S.

👉 Meet Our Bridge Inspection Team

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Q: How often is a inspection required?

Most bridges must be inspected every 24 months, as per National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS). Some require more frequent inspections depending on age, condition, or structural importance.

Q: Who can perform inspections?

Only qualified inspectors (typically Professional Engineers or NBIS-certified inspectors) are legally authorized to evaluate bridge structures.

Q: What tools or technology do you use in inspections?

We use:

• Drones/UAVs for high/remote access

• Non-destructive testing (NDT) equipment

• 3D modeling and BIM tools

• Sonar & divers for underwater inspection

Q: Can you inspect bridges after a natural disaster?

Yes. We provide emergency inspections after hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, or other impact events, ensuring structural safety and eligibility for federal or insurance claims.

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 Bridge Inspection Compliance & Standards

All inspections meet or exceed:

• FHWA NBIS Guidelines

• AASHTO Manual for Bridge Evaluation

• State Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements

• OSHA safety regulations

• ASCE/ACI codes

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 Schedule a Bridge Inspection Today

Ensure public safety and infrastructure reliability with expert bridge inspections from EMA Engineers. Contact our certified team today for a quote or consultation.

📞 Call: 1-321-355-6052
📩 Email: info@emaengineers.com
🔗 Request Inspection

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• About EMA Engineers

The Structural inspections process starts with the bridge inspectors reviewing the previous bridge inspection report and planning the inspection. The inspectors identify areas where defects were found in previous inspections. This allows them to determine if the defects previously identified have been repaired or have increased in size and severity. The inspectors coordinate traffic control and access equipment.

When the EMA inspectors arrive at the bridge site, they perform the bridge inspection from a distance. Some major problems may be indicated if the profile of the bridge is not smooth; in other words, the bridge will not look right to the experienced bridge inspector. The inspectors will then concentrate on discovering the cause and determining the extent of the problem. Depending on the exact nature of the problem, emergency repair or immediate closure of the bridge may be required. The inspectors use a systematic method to inspect the bridge to ensure that the entire bridge is inspected. The exact order of the inspection will vary depending on the type of bridge being inspected.

Procedure of Inspections.

The deck is the riding surface for traffic. The deck surface and roadway barrier or parapet are looked at for potholes, cracking, excessive wear, and sounded for hollow areas. The deck joints are looked at for evidence of seepage, loose armor angles, and whether the deck joints are properly functioning to allow expansion and contraction as temperature changes.

The superstructure supports the deck and generally consists of beams or girders that may be constructed of timber, concrete, or steel, and the bearings that connect the superstructure to the substructure. The inspectors pay close attention to areas of high stress and those prone to deterioration, but the entire superstructure is inspected.

Timber members are inspected for wood rot, crushing, splitting, and cracking. Concrete members are inspected for cracking, spalling, and hollow areas. (Spalling is where a portion of the concrete has fallen away, leaving a hole in the concrete.) Steel members are inspected for paint peeling, corrosion, and cracking. The bearings serve to transmit loads from the superstructure to the substructure and allow the movement of the bridge that occurs due to temperature changes.

The bearings during an inspection are inspected for excessive deformation and evidence that they are functioning properly, allowing the movements of the bridge due to temperature change. The substructure supports the superstructure and transmits loads from the superstructure to the ground. The substructure generally consists of pier caps, columns, and piles. The substructure may be constructed of timber, concrete, or steel. Timber members are inspected for wood rot, crushing, splitting, and cracking. Concrete members are inspected for cracking, spalling, and hollow areas during bridge inspection. Steel members are inspected for paint peeling, corrosion, and cracking. In addition, the substructure is inspected for evidence of settlement or scour. Settlement is an element of the substructure that moves downward due to soil conditions. Scour is the undermining of a structure due to water flow removing soil that supports the structure.

Actions during Inspection

The inspectors’ actions will vary depending on their bridge inspection findings. The inspectors will recommend immediate closure or emergency repair of the bridge after the bridge inspection if a critical condition is found that endangers the public. The inspectors will recommend that a repair be performed quickly when a situation exists that, if not addressed, may lead to a condition that could endanger the public. The inspectors will recommend routine repairs or maintenance to correct defects that, if not repaired, could increase in size and severity and shorten the service life of the bridge.