Maslyn and Quinton observe the
railing of a smaller bridge.
The thing that stood out about
Ayres specifically was the fact
that they had bridge inspectors,
that this was pretty much their
full diet. This is what they do
every day.
– Steve Tuttle, retired local agency
bridge coordinator, Oregon
Department of Transportation
steward for the public, we are always keeping an eye on costs
and efficiency. It makes them very competitive pricewise to
another firm that might be located elsewhere in Oregon.”
Maslyn said project challenges include scheduling
restrictions and other logistical issues. Inspections typically
occur during the dry season to avoid high water or flooded
creeks to allow evaluations of the substructures. Crews
sometimes need special access equipment for high-level
bridges, traffic control assistance, or platform or scaffolding
barges, all of which must be scheduled beforehand.
Ayres Associates also coordinates with local bridge
owners so they have opportunities to participate in
inspections, which has been helpful in knowing the history
of a particular bridge and providing cost-effective repair
recommendations, Maslyn said.
“The bridge inspection program administered by the
Oregon Department of Transportation is one that is very
well-managed,” he said, “and it makes our job easier when
we’ve got good, clear decision-making at the top and
there are consistent rules applied across the board.”
Having the group based in Florida has rarely been
an issue, Tuttle said, and Ayres Associates has met
ODOT’s expectations throughout the four contract
periods. Ayres Associates also has additional
inspectors based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the firm’s
corporate headquarters.
Ayres Associates’ location “isn’t something that
was either new to us or that we saw as an obstacle,
because we had good success with other firms either
located in the Midwest or East Coast,” he said. “The
thing that stood out about Ayres specifically was the
fact that they had bridge inspectors, that this was
pretty much their full diet. This is what they do every
day.”
16│TRENDS