An Inspection Framework For Assessing Condition Of Ground Mount Truss/Cantilever Overhead Sign Structures

This paper is a part of a broad research effort aimed at evaluating 82 weathering steel overhead sign structures in Charleston Interstate System in West Virginia. Twenty-six comprehensive inspection forms were developed to objectively evaluate the current condition of 11 general types of sign structures. This paper focuses on analyzing the following two types of sign structures: (1) Type A: Double armed ground mount cantilever; and (2) Type B: Shoulder/median barrier mount two-dimensional truss. A rating methodology was developed to evaluate both the condition of the overall sign structure and its elements. After extensive field inspections of each sign structure, the element condition rating assigned specific rating criteria to sign elements was conducted. The current condition of each sign structure was then evaluated by an overall condition rating, which is estimated by calculating the ratio between the total score of each structure (S) and its maximum possible total score (S sub max). Following the developed rating methodology, 57 percent of type A (8 sign structures) were found to be in fair condition and 43 percent (6 sign structures) were in good condition. On the other hand, 75 percent of type B (6 sign structures) were found to be in poor condition and 25 percent (2 sign structures) were in fair condition. The rating system is intended to assist the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) in making rational, objective decisions about whether there is a need to repair or replace at-risk elements or connections.

• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AHD10 Maintenance and Operations Management.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Zatar, Wael
  • Nguyen, Hai
  • Whitmore, Ted
  • Lewis, Ray
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2015-1-11 to 2015-1-15
• Date: 2015

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 15p
• Monograph Title: TRB 94th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cantilevers; Condition surveys; Decision making; Inspection; Interstate highways; Methodology; Overhead traffic signs; Ratings; Trusses; Weathering steel
• Identifier Terms: West Virginia Division of Highways
• Geographic Terms: Charleston (West Virginia)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01551937
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 15-2824
• Files: PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 29 2015 9:17AM