Section 3: Bridge Cost Information Review

Overview

T
he Bridge Division performs the Bridge Cost Information (BCI) review for all projects with bridge-class structures. The review is conducted just prior to the Financial Management Division’s submittal for the Federal Project Authorization and Agreement (FPAA) for construction.
During the final Bridge Cost Information (BCI) review, the Bridge Division Project Managers verify that for Category 6 funded projects all design and funding issues identified during the preliminary bridge layout review have been resolved so that the project can proceed to letting. If the bridge is not eligible for the funding category or is not CONSTRUCT-authorized, the project cannot be let for construction. Projects must have design problems resolved prior to letting or risk being pulled from the letting if there is not enough time to correct design issues. Avoid jeopardizing project letting dates by resolving all outstanding issues at the time of the preliminary layout review and not during the PS&E stage. PS&E Reviewers check the accuracy of Bridge Cost Information, Proposed Bridge window in a Location tab of TxDOTCONNECT, and estimates versus bridge layouts for all bridges let in a given month.
As noted in t
he PS&E Transmittal Data
Form 1002
:
  • District should submit final bridge layout sheets and an estimate of all bridge structures to the Bridge Division’s PS&E Review Branch for all projects with bridge structures, including bridge-class culverts.
  • Projects
    using Category 6, also include final Plan and Profile sheets.
The
Bridge Cost Information
 data is used to determine the cost per square foot (unit cost) of the bridge. This break-out arrangement provides information requirements for the reporting of bridge construction cost information to the Federal Highway Administration, Texas Legislature, Texas Transportation Commission, TxDOT Administration
,
 users within the Department, and other public agencies. The FHWA requires each state to report the average unit cost for bridges constructed each year and uses this information to determine how much bridge funding each state receives annually.
The
Bridge Cost Information
 is reviewed by the following:
  • The Bridge Division’s
    Bridge Management Section
     reviews the
    Bridge Cost Information
     submittal for items such as
    • P
      roper format of estimate
      in both TxDOTCONNECT and DCIS
    • A
      ccurate entry of the
      Bridge Cost Information
      and P3B screen in DCIS
    • Correctness of the corresponding to BCI Proposed Bridge window in the Location tab of TxDOTCONNECT
  • The Bridge Division
    P
    roject
    M
    anager reviews the
    Bridge Cost Information
     submittal for items such as
    • Category 6 eligibility and approval for the applicable funding program
The Bridge Division
Bridge Cost Information
 submittal process is as follows:
  • The
    District
     Bridge Engineer must approve final PS&E prior to submission of the
    Bridge Cost Information
     review.
  • Bridge Cost Information
     is submitted to the Bridge Division’s
    Bridge Management Section
     for review.
  • Email the submittal to the
    Bridge Division Project Manager assigned to your District.
  • Email Subject:
    Bridge Cost Information
    , CSJ, County
  • Approval of the bridge project funding is sent to the Financial Management Division.
  • Revisions of the Bridge Cost Information are communicated to District, DES PS&E Reviewer, and TxDOTCONNECT personnel.
NOTE: The internal website is available only to TxDOT personnel. For assistance with accessing this site, please contact the
District
with which you are
working, or the Bridge Division
Bridge Management Section
.

Guidelines for BCI Screen Entry

Cost estimates for bridge and bridge-class culvert work are shown on the
TxDOTCONNECT Location tab, Proposed Bridge window corresponding with BCI on
DCIS P4 screen. The
Bridge Cost Information
 data is used to determine the cost per square foot (unit cost) of the bridge. This information is also used to determine the unit cost for a particular type of bridge, which is used by bridge designers to select the type of superstructure most economical for a particular location, and to prepare estimates for similar bridge projects.
As mentioned above, the
Bridge Cost Information
 is important data that is used to ensure bridge funding and provide good estimates for funding allocations; therefore, it is important that the
Bridge Cost Information
 data is accurate. For more detailed information about how to enter this data, please use the pertinent memoranda on the internal Bridge Division
Bridge Management
 web page
The following information is required on the
Proposed Bridge and subsequently
 BCI screen for all bridge projects:
  • Type of bridge work (replacement,
    new,
    widening, rehabilitation, maintenance, repair, and
    removal
    )
  • Permanent Structure Number (PSN), commonly referred to as the
    National Bridge Inventory (NBI) number. Include the existing
    (old)
    NBI for replacement projects.
  • On or off state system
  • Type of bridge
  • Deck area
  • Cost percentage
  • Bridge length
Detailed step-by-step instructions can be found on the internal Bridge Division
Bridge Management
 web page.

Assessment of Bridge-Class Structure Deck Area

Enter the deck area into the mainframe
Bridge Cost Information
estimate for every bridge-class structure. TxDOT must be able to calculate the unit price of various bridge-class structures in order to seek adequate reimbursement from FHWA. To achieve this accuracy, BRG has developed a uniform method for all District to follow when calculating the deck area (sq. ft.) of a bridge-class structure. These instructions demonstrate how to enter the bridge deck area into the Bridge Cost Information (BCI), card type 12, so that only the relevant bridge item costs are attributed to the bridge portion of the project.
Examples of bridge deck calculations are available on the Bridge Division’s internal
Bridge Management
 web page.

Roadway Items Excluded from Bridge Item Estimate

To calculate the unit cost of a bridge project accurately, the bid items need to be divided in the appropriate manner.
FHWA provides the proper breakout of bridge items from roadway items at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/nbi/uc_criteria.pdf
Do not include the following items in the bridge item section of the estimate:
  • Mobilization
  • Demolition of existing structure (Item 496)
  • Bridge approach slabs (only include in the bridge items if the approach slab is integral with the abutment)
  • Stream channel work such as riprap, slope paving
  • Earthwork relating to channel excavation
  • Clearing and grubbing
  • Retaining walls not attached to, or not for the protection of, the abutments
  • Guardrail transitions to bridges
  • Maintenance and protection of traffic
  • Detour costs
  • Signing and marking
  • Lighting
  • Electrical Conduit
  • Inlet frames and grates
  • Field office
  • Construction engineering items
  • Training
  • Right-of-way
  • Utility relocations
  • Contingencies Include the following item with the bridge items section of the estimate:
Include the following item with the bridge items section of the estimate:
  • Riprap if needed for abutment protection
    only
The most current federal requirements can be found
also
on the Bridge Division internal
Bridge Management
 web page.
If you need assistance accessing any of the internal website documents referenced in this chapter, please contact the
District
 with which you are working, or the Bridge Division
Bridge Management Section
.