Project Overview
Collins has been providing sign structure inspection services for INDOT for more than 6 years. The previous contract was the first contract of its type in Indiana, and included the inspection of over 650 cantilever and span sign structures over the course of 6 years, several of which were emergency/on-call inspections of impacted sign structures. Now, INDOT and Collins are working on a new project with the goal of inspecting every sign structure in the state inventory by 2021.
This goal means Collins will be inspecting around 500 structures per year, a significant increase in the volume of inspections from the previous contract. In addition, Collins will be tasked with providing minor maintenance in the field and setting up contracts with contractors to perform major maintenance tasks, both on an as-need basis.
To meet this demand, Collins is working closely with INDOT’s Traffic Division in developing better methods of inventory organization, more strategic grouping of structures to be inspected, and more efficient inspection methods. With INDOT’s approval, Collins performed the first inspection of a span structure while allowing live-traffic to pass underneath. A demonstration was performed and filmed by WISH-TV in Indianapolis to provide a public announcement of this method which has never been seen by the residents of Indiana. It is both Collins and INDOT’s view that this method will allow an additional method of inspection that is not only more efficient, but is safer for both the inspectors and the traveling public.