Category: PILLAR Talk

Most DOT asset managers have tens of thousands of bridges to maintain at acceptable service levels. That’s a lot of inspections and condition assessments to work through, not to mention getting the maintenance done. Worrying about the condition and safety of the bridges you are responsible for is enough to keep you up at night.    

While bridge inspections and maintenance are critical to preventing catastrophic incidents, they are typically time-consuming and expensive to execute, pulling on already thin department resources. That’s why PILLAR offers solutions in the form of technology, condition assessment, maintenance plans, and more. We can help you stay organized, quickly identify needs, and address repair and maintenance recommendations so drivers stay safe.

Challenges of Bridge Assessments

Most bridges are inspected every one to two years. This may not seem daunting at first, but consider that a DOT alone manages more than 21,000 bridges and structures. The sheer volume is staggering and each of those bridge inspections can present several challenges:

• Inspecting large numbers of bridges within limited timeframes and budgets can be difficult so managers must thread the needle of thoroughness and efficiency. 
• Bridge inspections generate vast amounts of data. 
• Managing and analyzing this data effectively can be complex and time-consuming.
• Tracking and executing maintenance recommendations for tens of thousands of bridges requires serious manpower and can be overwhelming.

PILLAR Balances Thoroughness with Efficiency in Bridge Assessment

At PILLAR, we specialize in managing and maintaining transportation infrastructure, helping DOTs and management companies make the most of their resources and keep the public safe. 

Our team is comprised of a unique combination multidisciplined professionals including structural engineers and data analysts. In addition to our decades of tactical, strategic, and operational experience, we have the technology and expertise available to collect and manage your data and use to develop a maintenance plan for any bridge. Here’s how we can help:

• Quantity Verification: We go into the field to verify the needs identified in your bridge assessment reports. Next, we collate the data, bundling similar repairs on several bridges. With this information you can quickly formulate a contract for completing the repairs.

• Get Repairs Done Fast: If you have a backlog of maintenance tasks, we can help! Our experienced maintenance professionals can supplement your staff and oversee repairs. You’ll have the job done professionally and efficiently.  

• Documentation & Data Analysis: At PILLAR, we help you get more from your data. We’re experts at normalizing data and putting into a format you can use quickly. When you work with us, you’ll never spend hours sifting through hard copies trying to find critical information about repairs. We’ll digitize your reports so you can easily find what you need.

• Risk Assessment: With PILLAR, you can evaluate risks through identified defects or deterioration. We compare current condition data with historical records to assess deterioration rates and trends so you can quickly prioritize maintenance and repair actions based on the severity of the condition. 

If you’re ready to take control of your bridge maintenance, contact us. Our team of experts is ready to speak with you about how we can help.

As a transportation asset manager, one of your worst bad days is to receive an alert that a slope collapsed on one of your roadways. This treacherous situation can result in fatalities and/or roadway closures and require significant expenditures to repair. 

Put a plan in place to help prevent this bad day scenario from happening in the first place. Keep your slopes maintained and safe with a proactive management plan from PILLAR. In 2023, our team helped one DOT implement a slide prevention program by identifying over 15,000 square yards of slopes requiring stabilization BEFORE disaster struck — and our cutting-edge collection methods can help your agency do the same.

The Issue

Engineered slopes can become unstable over time from weather events, erosion and other factors. Stabilization counters these issues, protecting their long-term viability and preventing rockslides and other slope failures.

Slope stabilization includes a number of implemented techniques designed to remedy an unstable or inadequately stable slope. The purpose is to increase the Factor of Safety of a slope to a level that is considered adequate.

Stabilization methods vary depending on the slope, its location, and surround environment. 

The Solution

PILLAR’s proactive slope erosion mitigation planning offers thorough evaluation and remediation. Our approach includes:

Site assessment and engineering analysis. We combine the technology of Mobile LiDAR with on-the-ground manual inspection to evaluate the geological and hydrological characteristics of your slopes. Through this, our professionals can identify any potential instability triggers, such as rainfall, snowmelt, earthquakes, or human activities. Where needed, we will test the soil and rock properties for cohesion, friction and strength as well as assess the groundwater conditions. This gives you a complete and accurate picture of your slope.

Scaling. Removing loose or potentially unstable material improves the geography of a slope. Scaling is an efficient way to prevent rockslides on natural or newly created slopes and can be conducted regularly as part of routine maintenance. Scaling methods include hand or mechanical scaling or by small scale blasting, also known as trim blasting.

Structural measures. Reinforcement systems such as retaining walls, soil nails, micropiles, rock bolts and shear pins work externally to protect the slope from weather and erosion or work internally to give extra strength to the rock mass.  The PILLAR team has more than 100 years of combined experience working with and for municipalities and departments of transportation and has the expertise to ensure these measures are done in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

Non-structural measures. Landscaping and drainage provide additional protection to slopes. Added vegetation can improve slope stability by enhancing soil cohesion and fighting erosion. Drainage is critical to allow water to escape from rock slope, further mitigating the effects of erosion and freeze-thaw cycles that can fracture rock. Drainage can include horizontal weep drains or holes drilled into large rock faces. 

Continual monitoring and maintenance. PILLAR’s support doesn’t end with recommendations. We remain vigilant over time, continually assessing your slopes for any signs of deterioration or instability.

Emergency response and public awareness. We ensure that slope stabilization work includes the proper signage needed to raise awareness to the traveling public about stabilization efforts and potential hazards. In the unfortunate event of an unexpected slop failure or natural disasters, PILLAR will be beside you to develop an emergency response plan.

Eradicate Unstable Slopes Today

Slope slides can be deadly, so make proactive stabilization priority No. 1. With unmatched experience and state-of-the-art technology, PILLAR is your trusted slope erosion mitigation  partner. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation, and let’s make your slopes — and roadways — the safest they can be.

Complete the contact form below to learn more about our services.

It’s time to gear up your crews for a crucial task. As the trees prepare to shed their leaves in preparation for fall and winter, the upcoming months provide an ideal opportunity to tackle essential roadside tree trimming and highway vegetation control. This initiative not only enhances the safety of your community’s roadways but also benefits all those who travel on them.

Here are several compelling reasons why regular roadside tree trimming should be a top priority:

1.) Enhanced Safety

Unchecked growth of trees and shrubs can pose significant safety hazards for road users. Overgrown branches, shrubs, and other vegetation obstruct visibility, making it challenging for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians to spot crucial elements such as road signs, oncoming traffic, and the path of the road itself.

It’s imperative to remove any limbs or vegetation that obstruct a driver’s line of sight, especially in curves or at intersections. All signs should remain clearly visible from every angle and at a considerable distance. For instance, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, critical signs like stop, yield, and wrong-way signs should be discernible from 250 feet away on roads with a 30mph speed limit and 600 feet away on roads with a 60mph speed limit.

2.) Tree Health

Regular and proper trimming practices help manage the growth of shrubs and trees, ensuring their continued health and strength. This reduces the likelihood of branches falling onto roadways and sidewalks, thus mitigating potential hazards.

It is essential to remove dead or ailing trees and shrubs, as these could become serious threats to road users.

3.) Infrastructure Health

Trees and shrubs possess aggressive root systems that can penetrate pavement and affect drainage pipes and other roadside infrastructure. Eliminating young trees near roadways can prevent future issues from arising.

Vegetation adjacent to roadways can also disrupt stormwater drainage, leading to water accumulation on and near the road. This not only damages pavement but also creates safety concerns for vehicles.

Additionally, removing trees near the road facilitates snow plowing and prevents the development of unexpected icy patches during winter months.

4.) Cost-Efficiency

In simple terms, the cost of routine tree and shrub maintenance and brush removal is minimal compared to the potential damage they can cause. Taking proactive measures is far more cost-effective than reacting to the aftermath of accidents or incidents involving trees, brush, or other vegetation.

Establishing a comprehensive vegetation maintenance plan and implementing it can also reduce liability in case of unfortunate incidents involving trees, brush, or vegetation.

Create a Plan with PILLAR

PILLAR is your trusted partner in devising an effective and proactive vegetation management plan to save time, money, and lives. 

PILLAR offers a range of services, from identifying problematic areas and prioritizing needs to drafting contracts and budgeting, for DOTs of every size. Our satisfied partners include a DOT that needed to address overgrown trees and vegetation over 500 centerline miles plus corresponding ramps and intersections. 

Our expertise and experience guarantee the successful management of your plan.  Contact us today for a complimentary consultation, and let’s make your roadways safer for all.