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Hang on tight
To inspect a weathering steel pony truss over the Arkansas River in Chaffee County, Colo., Senior Structural Engineer Ryan Nataluk needed to hang below a panel point near the center span. There, he inspected connections between the lower chord, floorbeam, vertical and diagonals, which are difficult to observe using typical inspection means.
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Climbing higher and higher
Senior Structural Engineer Nick Cioffredi inspects portal bracing members at their connection to the upper chord while posted atop an historic wrought iron bridge in Conejos County, Colo., originally erected in 1895. Climbing inspection is the only means of inspection for the bridge, which has weight restrictions for large vehicles.
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View from below
Bridge Inspector Frank Block inspects the floorbeam and stringer condition of the US 50 through truss in Pueblo, Colo., using a specially designed and fabricated beam roller harness attachment. An adjacent structure blocked access by any other means.
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Look out below
Senior Structural Engineer Ryan Nataluk hangs to look under a lateral bracing connection point of the Silver Memorial Bridge near Point Pleasant, W.Va., with live traffic below.
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View from the top
Senior Structural Engineer Nick Cioffredi (bottom) and Bridge Inspector Frank Block (top) use rope access and fall-protection methods to ascend and traverse truss members of the Silver Memorial Bridge over the Ohio River near Point Pleasant, W.Va.
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Secured position
Transportation Engineering Manager Mike Perry uses rope access to ascend a vertical truss member of the Silver Memorial Bridge near Point Pleasant, W.Va.
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Scaling new heights
Engineering Technologist Steve Stanley used rope access to inspect the façade of the west channel pier of the Silver Memorial Bridge over the Ohio River.
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Out in the cold
Bridge Inspector Frank Block and Engineering Technologist Matt Bialowas (left to right) inspect along vertical columns of the Red Cliff Arch open spandrel deck arch bridge near Red Cliff, Colo. The approach is the only form of access to the components without the use of a crane.
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Tangled up
Senior Structural Engineer Ryan Nataluk inspects a golf course structure overgrown with vegetation, never before inspected because conventional inspection methods and equipment were unable to access the structure. The bridge was closed immediately after the inspection and replaced the following year.
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High-flying duo
Senior Structural Engineers Ryan Nataluk and Nick Cioffredi use rope access to examine cable connections to the tower of the pedestrian-designated Millennium Bridge in Denver. Because of surrounding buildings and rail lines, this is the only form of access to the components without the use of a crane.
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An unusual perspective
Senior Structural Engineers Ryan Nataluk and Nick Cioffredi examine corrosion damage to the steel arch on a painted steel open spandrel deck arch bridge that spans the Winnipeg River West Branch near Kenora, Ontario.
Bridge inspecting: It's a dangerous job, but these engineers employed by Edmonton, AB, Canada-based Stantec are up to the challenge. Browse photos of some of the death-defying acts they perform regularly as part of their high-flying profession.