Colorado Statewide Overhead Sign & Signal Inspections
Since 1998, LONCO, Inc. has been awarded annual contracts to inspect the overhead signs, signal poles and mast arms, and high mast lights on all Colorado Interstate and State highways. The initially established inspection cycle was sixty (60) months for all structures but, because of the results of inspections to date, the cycle has been reduced to a maximum of four years and a minimum of 1 year depending on the structure type and condition. The number of structures inspected by LONCO during a four-year inspection cycle now totals more than 6,300.
The work consists of inspection and inventory of all applicable structures by highway, mile point location, GPS coordinates, and structure type. In addition, an inspection of each structure utilizing a PONTIS format element is performed. Emphasis is placed on those details that are prone to fatigue failures, general physical condition, bolted connection conditions and collision damage. Electrical, signage, effectiveness or functionality are not a consideration for this project. As required by CDOT, LONCO’s inspection team is led by one of our Colorado Licensed Professional Engineers that is also certified under the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) as a bridge inspection team leader. The second member of the team is an American Welding Society (AWS) Certified Level II Non-destructive Testing (NDT) technician. Working together, the structure receives a thorough hands-on inspection including application of MT, PT, and UT techniques. All data collected on each structure is entered into a PONTIS database very similar to the NBIS Bridge Inventory. LONCO assisted CDOT in developing the inspection Coding Guide that provides the guidance and requirements for assigning the appropriate condition state for each element of a structure as well as defining the inventory requirements.
To the best knowledge of the CDOT Records and Inventory Unit, Colorado is the first State to utilize PONTIS for these types of structures.
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