Description
Inspect transportation construction projects—highways, bridges, and related infrastructure—for structural quality, materials, safety, and compliance with plans, DOT specifications, and codes; may specialize in roadways, bridges, traffic systems, or drainage.
- • Inspect highways, bridges, culverts, and transit or airport pavements during and after construction for quality, safety, and conformance to plans, specifications, and codes.
- • Maintain daily reports, photo logs, pay quantities, and as-built records.
- • Review and interpret plans, specifications, shop drawings, RFIs, and change documents to verify requirements.
- • Check line, grade, alignment, and elevations with survey instruments, lasers, or GPS.
- • Monitor earthwork, grading, and subgrade preparation; verify compaction and moisture with field tests.
- • Observe asphalt paving operations; check mix temperatures, mat thickness, density, and smoothness.
- • Inspect concrete work, including forms, reinforcing steel, placement, finishing, curing, and cylinder sampling.
- • Verify structural steel fabrication and erection, bolting, welding, and coatings meet project and AASHTO/DOT requirements.
- • Inspect bridge falsework, shoring, bearings, joints, decks, and waterproofing for compliance.
- • Monitor installation of drainage, culverts, utilities, and erosion and sediment controls for function and compliance.
- • Review work zone traffic control for compliance with MUTCD and contract requirements; monitor worker and public safety.
- • Inspect and witness foundation work, such as pile driving, drilled shafts, and load tests; maintain installation records.
- • Oversee installation and testing of signals, lighting, ITS, signing, and pavement markings.
- • Conduct materials sampling and testing (e.g., nuclear density, slump, air, gradations, cores) and document results.
- • Identify nonconforming work, issue deficiency reports, and track corrective actions.
- • Coordinate with contractors, designers, utilities, and agency representatives to resolve field issues.
- • Evaluate environmental and stormwater compliance, including SWPPP measures and permit conditions.
- • Perform progress and final inspections, develop punch lists, and recommend acceptance or rejection of work.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Interview time
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
