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12 AI Engineers, Inc. All signs point to safety A I's Engineering Manager, Michael Beal, PE heads up inventory and inspection of Massachusetts ancillary highway structures, including signs, lights, and traffic signals; an assign- ment-based project which includes sections of the heavily traveled Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). The goal of each assignment is to set up a numbering system and perform an inspection of all structures on each route, he said. Some structures could be deteriorat - ing due to corrosion. Maybe a tree is blocking a sign or signal from view. Others may have just rusting at the base, but it could potentially put the structures in danger of falling onto a roadway. "They are critical findings and we report them to MassDOT right away." said Mr. Beal. Since 2012, AI has been delivering full condition evaluations of Massachusetts highway signs, ITS, traffic signal, and lighting structures, then preparing reports with repair or replacement rec - ommendations. This asset management system helps to maintain the safety of the traveling public, Mr. Beal said. AI has completed field inspections for six assignments on this effort for MassDOT. "MassDOT is very happy with our work. Having experience working with MassDOT on this unique project gives us a leg up on our competition." said Mr. Beal. "The rewarding part is having the peace of mind that we are assuring the safety of the public." Relationship building I n 2008, AI received its first project in Virginia. Since then, they have opened the firm's newest branch office in Richmond, VA which has worked closely with VDOT to expand their role into bridge and ancillary structure inspection. Since 2012, AI has performed safety inspection on over 1,200 bridges and 4,100 ancillary structures serving VDOT on five contracts for the Fredericksburg, Lynchburg, Salem, Richmond and Northern Virginia Districts. In addition to meeting the Federal mandate, VDOT uses the information from these inspections to manage their inventory and make maintenance and budgeting de - cisions. The findings in the inspection reports are also used for load rating analysis to determine load carrying capacity. "The FHWA requires bridge safety inspections to be performed every two years." says Associate Vice President, Hudson Yost, PE. Highway Sign Structure, MA Lord Delaware Bridge, West Point, VA Forward-thinking design W hen the New York City Department of Design and Con- struction (NYCDDC) needed pre-scoping for the rehabili- tation/replacement of the Porpoise Bridge over Flushing River in Queens, it called on AI. Deterioration, substandard features, insufficient load-carrying capacity, and a new type of floodwater-control mechanism were factors, as was the bridge's atypical design. AI load rated the existing bridge and it found the bridge to have insufficient normal traffic load carrying capacity. As a result, the bridge received a 10-ton posting. Then, AI presented 13 rehabilitation alternatives for the sub-standard structure. "We came up with cost estimates, life-cycle costs, pros and cons for each rehabilitation alternative," said AI's Senior Structural Engineer, Besmir Xhurxhi, PE, "as well as a preliminary design package." If, during the course of the development of alternatives, expert advice was needed on things like hydrology, architecture or geotechnical, those experts were hired in. "AI was able to meet the needs and expectations of NYCDDC and NYC Department of Parks and Recreation in the development of the final pre-scoping report" with regard to research, development of the alternatives and preliminary design of selected alternative, said Mr. Xhurxhi. Floodwater control was an especially high priority, as water could affect the nearby park. As not all floods come with a warning, AI sought out a fabricator for a remote-controlled sluice gates, an innovative solution. "With the ability to remotely control the submerged sluice gates, maintenance crews do not have to operate un - der the bridge. Each sluice gate can be independently programmed for open/close position and it can also be manually operated. All sluice gates can be synced and controlled by single control panel positioned at another location on the bridge." said Mr. Xhurxhi. Design is a main reason clients choose AI. For instance, Eversource, New England's largest energy provider, has an on-call contract with AI for civil and structural design services, such as obsolete equipment replacements. This kind of work puts all new skill sets into motion, said Mr. Xhurxhi, with more complex timing and coordination on the design and procurement sides. Rendering of Porpoise Bridge, Queens, NY Delivering Infrastructure Solutions "Our inspectors focus on the structural components of these bridges to make sure they can safely carry the traveling public." AI's expertise has also led to private work. For example, AI has participated in two heavy haul projects, with loads of up to two million pounds, working with carrier companies to verify the route's ability to carry the given load and inspect bridges crossed prior to and after the moves.