The TxDOT Bridge Inspection Program Manager is a member of the Bridge Division staff and provides guidance and support to all personnel involved in the BIP. The Program Manager has the responsibility of overseeing the operation of the entire program. Regardless of the personnel involved and delegated responsibilities, the Program Manager is ultimately responsible for assuring that the BIP remains in compliance with the NBIS and FHWA metrics.

A Team Leader (TL) is responsible for guiding an inspection team and oversees the planning, preparation, and performance of bridge inspections. Although a TL may not perform every aspect of the bridge inspection, a TL must be present from beginning through completion of an inspection, be an active participant of the inspection, and must sign the inspection reports. A TL can perform or oversee initial, routine, damage, indepth, special, and QC Re-Inspections. A TL cannot perform QC Re-Inspection on a bridge that he served as the TL for the original inspection. Underwater and NSTM inspections require specially trained TLs. (See Section 3, “Quality Control,” of this chapter for discussions on Re-Inspections for the different staff members.)

In addition, TxDOT personnel ultimately responsible for assigning and approving the work performed by a Consultant’s or Sub-Consultant’s staff must meet the qualifications of a TL.

TxDOT Bridge Division will employ a professional engineer knowledgeable and capable of performing load rating calculations that determine the capacity and stress limits of a bridge. The Load Rating Engineer will work directly under the direction of the Program Manager at the Bridge Division and will support TxDOT statewide needs for bridge load rating analysis.

The QA Team will perform statewide QC/QA of the BIP with the goal of ensuring a high degree of accuracy and consistency in the operation and functions of the BIP. The QA Team will report directly to the Program Manager at the Bridge Division and will support and work in conjunction with other Division, District, and Bridge Inspection Consulting Firm personnel involved with the TxDOT BIP.

Members of the Underwater (UW) Unit performing underwater inspection activities will be knowledgeable in bridge inspection and skilled in diving techniques. At least one member of the UW Unit will be a qualified TL.

The Program Manager and UW Unit will ensure that an underwater-qualified TL is present during the performance of all UW Inspections. All underwater inspection personnel will work under the direction of the Program Manager and will support needs for TxDOT UW Inspections statewide. All UW Unit members must have successfully completed the required training.

The Nonredundant Steel Tension (NSTM) Unit consists of NSTM Inspectors and specialized equipment operators, some of whom are TLs.

The Program Manager and NSTM Unit will ensure that a qualified NSTM TL is present during the performance of all NSTM Inspections. Personnel performing NSTM Inspections will be knowledgeable in NSTM Inspection techniques and will have successfully completed the required training to perform such inspections.

The NSTM Unit works under the direction of the Program Manager and supports needs for TxDOT NSTM Inspections statewide.