Broward County Bridge Coatings Inspection

In total, an estimated 85,000 motorists use three steel bridges in Broward County, Florida, every day. That number will likely increase in the coming years as the county’s population grows to a projected 2 million residents by 2022. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) took steps to ensure that the bridges will continue to safely serve motorists for decades to come. The dual-span structures were recoated to extend their service life by at least 25 years.

The project entailed completely removing the existing structural steel coatings and replacing them with new coating systems to control corrosion. GFT, as a subconsultant to A&P Engineers, provided construction engineering inspection services to ensure that all work was completed on time and in accordance with FDOT standards.

Old coating removal and surface cleaning to near-white metal blast standards ensured a strong bond between the underlying steel and the new coating. The application of a high-performance coating system significantly reduces the risk of corrosion, which can weaken the integrity of a steel structure. FDOT requires stripe coating of vulnerable spots such as welds, edges, nut and bolt assemblies, and rivets before the final coat to provide additional corrosion protection. Coating layers must be applied in specific thicknesses for optimum performance.

Through on-site inspection of all construction activities, GFT confirmed that proper surface preparation and the application of new coatings and finishes will provide long-lasting bridge protection. Expert materials sampling and testing ensured that all solvents, coatings, and sealers used on the project offered high-quality results. The team’s work included facilitating effective communication between all parties involved in the project to resolve conflicts and maintain the project schedule.