Brayman Publications and Media Coverage 2013 - Volume 2

Message from the President . . . . 1

Introducing the Dragon Slayers . . 2

Caught Doing Something Right . . 3

The Hulton Bridge Another Major River Crossing . . . 3

The Jonathan Hulton Bridge Built in 1908

The Brayman

Insider
2013
load weight.

Pennsylvania Leads the Nation in Structurally Deficient Bridges
PENNDOT’S RISKBASED WEIGHT TO RESTRICTIONS EXPECTED SLOW SPECIAL has deterioration to one or more of its major components. Although deterioration is present, a structurally deficient bridge can still be safe if it is restricted to carry only certain loads. In which case, the bridge is deemed “Restricted” by PennDOT. As a result of approximately 1,000 bridges statewide being deemed as structurally deficient, the PennDOT Risk-Based Weight Restriction Policy was recently revised. The updated policy requires that deficient bridge weight restrictions be reduced and posted in order to meet safe-load capacities. PennDOT will be placing signs well in advance of the deficient bridges to identify

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safe-load capacities. Vehicles in excess of the posted weight will not be authorized to cross the bridge. This policy change could significantly affect Brayman’s costs to ship materials to job sites and customers, and our ability to do business in a quick and effective manner. It is anticipated that there will be delays in the time it takes to receive Special Hauling Permits and that we will be required to travel alternate routes to reach our destinations. Loads may even need to be reduced or vehicles revised to provide additional axles to spread out

HAULING PERMIT APPROVALS. With 25,000 state-owned bridges, Pennsylvania has the third-largest number of bridges in the nation, but also leads the nation in the number of bridges classified as “structurally deficient.” Being rated structurally deficient does not mean that a bridge is unsafe; it means that it