84.17 Bridge inspection and inventory.

(1) In this section:

(a) “Highway" means all public ways and thoroughfares specified in s. 340.01 (22).

(b) “Highway bridge" means a bridge on a highway in this state which crosses waterways, other topographical barriers, other highways or railroads.

(c) “Rehabilitating" means making major repairs necessary to restore the structural integrity of a highway bridge or making repairs necessary to correct a major safety defect.

(2) The department shall conduct an inspection and inventory of all highway bridges on the highways in this state. The inspection and inventory of local highway bridges shall be done in consultation with local authorities. The department shall complete the inspection and inventory required under this subsection prior to July 1, 1979, if it is practicable to do so, and in any case prior to December 31, 1980, and shall submit the inspection and inventory report to the federal government in accordance with the provisions of 23 USC 144. The inspection and inventory shall include all highway bridges on any highway in the state. The department shall classify each highway bridge according to its safety, serviceability and necessity for public use and shall determine the cost of rehabilitating the highway bridge or of replacing the highway bridge with a comparable facility. The department shall adopt standards for the highway bridge inspection and inventory program under this subsection.

(3) After the initial inspection and inventory under sub. (2) is completed, all highway bridges in the state shall be inspected on a continuing basis as determined by the department. The department shall establish standards for the continuing inspection program. The responsibility for the continuing inspection program shall be as follows:

(a) The department shall be responsible for inspecting the highway bridges on the state trunk highway system.

(b) Local authorities and other authorities shall be responsible for inspecting highway bridges on highways under their jurisdictions.

History: 1979 c. 7.