(a) As used herein, the terms “bridge” and “bridge with approaches” are defined as structures, including supports, erected over a depression or an obstruction such as water, a highway or a railway, with tracks or passageways for carrying traffic or other moving loads, and with openings measured along the center of the roadway of more than 20 feet (6.1 meters) between undercopings of abutments or spring lines of arches, or the extreme ends of openings for multiple boxes. The term “bridge” shall also include multiple pipe structures where the clear distance between pipe openings is less than half of the smaller pipe diameter(s), and the combined structure exceeds 20 feet (6.1 meters) in total span length.
(b) All bridges and bridges with approaches located on or over public roads must be inspected in accordance with The National Bridge Inspection Standards, as codified in 23 C.F.R. Part 650, Subpart C, as amended, and in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) Such inspections shall be the responsibility of the bridge owner.
(2) The inspections shall be performed by qualified personnel not less frequently than every 2 years, based on the bridge condition and on the schedule set by the Department of Transportation.
(3) Inspection information must be collected, maintained and be available for review as required by the Federal Highway Administration’s Recording and Coding Guide for Structure Inventory and Appraisal of the Nation’s Bridge.
(4) If the bridge owner does not perform the required inspection on the schedule approved by the Department of Transportation, the Department shall notify the bridge owner and give the bridge owner 60 days to produce the required inspection report.
(5) If the bridge owner fails to produce the required inspection report after notice pursuant to paragraph (b)(4) of this section, the Department shall be empowered to take the following enforcement actions:
a. Perform the inspection, the costs of which shall be borne by the bridge owner. The Department shall have the right to enter the property to perform such inspections, regardless of the ownership of the property; or
b. Close the bridge.
72 Del. Laws, c. 201, § 1.
Copyright ©2024 LegalFix. All rights reserved. LegalFix is not a law firm, is not licensed to practice law, and does not provide legal advice, services, or representation. The information on this website is an overview of the legal plans you can purchase—or that may be provided by your employer as an employee benefit or by your credit union or other membership group as a membership benefit.
LegalFix provides its members with easy access to affordable legal services through a network of independent law firms. LegalFix, its corporate entity, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and contractors do not provide legal advice, services, or representation—directly or indirectly.
The articles and information on the site are not legal advice and should not be relied upon—they are for information purposes only. You should become a LegalFix member to get legal services from one of our network law firms.
You should not disclose confidential or potentially incriminating information to LegalFix—you should only communicate such information to your network law firm.
The benefits and legal services described in the LegalFix legal plans are not always available in all states or with all plans. See the legal plan Benefit Overview and the more comprehensive legal plan contract during checkout for coverage details in your state.
Use of this website, the purchase of legal plans, and access to the LegalFix networks of law firms are subject to the LegalFix Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.