Step 1: Contextual Framework Pass (Facts)

Section Content:

Facts:
Engineer A was an engineer with a local government.
Engineer A learned about a critical situation involving a bridge 280 feet long, 30 feet above the stream.
This bridge was a concrete deck on wood piles built in the 1950's by the state.
It was part of the secondary roadway system given to the counties many years ago.
In June 2000, Engineer A received a telephone call from the bridge inspector stating this bridge needed to be closed due to the large number of rotten piling.
Engineer A had barricades and signs erected within the hour on a Friday afternoon.
Residents in the area were required to take a 10-mile detour.
On the following Monday, the barricades were in the river and the “Bridge Closed” sign was in the trees by the roadway.
More permanent barricades and signs were installed.
The press published photos of some of the piles that did not reach the ground and the myriad of patch work over the years.
Within a few days, a detailed inspection report prepared by a consulting engineering firm, signed and sealed, indicated seven pilings required replacement.
Within three weeks, Engineer A had obtained authorization for the bridge to be replaced.
Several departments in the state and federal transportation departments needed to complete their reviews and tasks before the funds could be used.
A rally was held, and a petition with approximately 200 signatures asking that the bridge be reopened to limited traffic was presented to the County Commission.
Engineer A explained the extent of the damages and the efforts under way to replace the bridge.
The County Commission decided not to reopen the bridge.
Preliminary site investigation studies were begun.
Environmental, geological, right-of-way, and other studies were also performed.
A decision was made to use a design build contract to avoid a lengthy scour analysis for the pile design.
A non-engineer public works director decided to have a retired bridge inspector, who was not an engineer, examine the bridge, and a decision was made to install two crutch piles under the bridge and to open the bridge with a 5-ton limit.
No follow-up inspection was undertaken.
Engineer A observes that traffic is flowing and the movement of the bridge is frightening.
Log trucks and tankers cross it on a regular basis.
School buses go around it.