AASHTO Journal, 17 July 2015
The Federal Highway Administration published a final rule for national tunnel inspection standards, which will be the basis of its first standardized tunnel inspection program.
This effort will be modeled after what the FHWA said is its “successful bridge program established nearly a half-century ago to ensure the safety of the nation’s bridges.”
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said: “Establishing national standards will help us maintain a high level of quality and uniformity in tunnel inspections nationwide.”
The tunnel standards are spelled out in a July 14 Federal Register notice. The final rule is effective Aug. 13.
Until now, FHWA provided inspection guidance but said it “had no means by which to require tunnel owners, such as state departments of transportation or other transportation agencies, to inspect tunnels. In addition, tunnel inspection methods have varied widely. With this new program, FHWA will compile an inventory of the nation’s tunnels and begin to develop a national database similar to the National Bridge Inventory.”
Similar to that NBI, the National Tunnel Inspection Standards include inspection requirements and annual reports on tunnel conditions and inspection findings. They will include routine inspections of tunnels on all public roads along with written reports to FHWA, training and a national certification program for tunnel inspectors, and will require the timely correction of any deficiencies with tunnels.
“Just like bridges, each tunnel is structurally unique and requires dedicated attention and uniform measurement standards,” said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Gregory Nadeau. “The new standards will ensure inspections are consistent and focused to help ensure the public’s safety.”
To help implement the new system, the FHWA developed several guidance documents and manuals. It will offer training to state and local engineers on how to conduct highway tunnel inspections, including on what elements to inspect and how to code and record the results.
