Description
Inspect bridges and related structures to ensure safe passage of people and vehicles. Includes highway and railway bridge inspectors and other inspectors of transportation structures not elsewhere classified.
- • Prepare and submit bridge inspection reports, condition ratings, and photo documentation.
- • Inspect decks, girders, trusses, bearings, expansion joints, railings, and approaches for defects, corrosion, and deterioration.
- • Record measurements, defect locations, and maintenance needs in inspection databases.
- • Advise maintenance and construction crews on safe repair methods and traffic control requirements.
- • Observe field activities to ensure inspection and safety procedures are followed.
- • Recommend corrective actions, repair priorities, and load postings to address deficiencies.
- • Inspect substructures, abutments, piers, and foundations for settlement, spalling, scour, and seepage.
- • Notify agencies and stakeholders of urgent hazards, closures, or interim protective measures.
- • Direct crews to install temporary supports, debris removal, or protective shielding as needed.
- • Verify vertical and horizontal clearances, alignments, and geometry meet route requirements.
- • Review plans, previous reports, and load-rating documents to define inspection scope and critical elements.
- • Measure deflection, crack width, section loss, and coating thickness using appropriate tools.
- • Post or verify load limits, height restrictions, and other warning signage when conditions warrant.
- • Calculate or verify load ratings and capacity factors using established methods and software.
- • Perform visual, hands-on, rope-access, snooper-truck, UAV, and nondestructive testing as required.
- • Inspect waterways for scour; measure channel depths, pier exposure, and debris accumulation.
- • Conduct post-event inspections after impacts, floods, or extreme loads to assess damage and needed actions.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Interview time
Related Pathways
Supply Chain & Transportation
View
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
