INSPECTION OF BRIDGES                                                                             H.B. 4455:

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 4455 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Ben Glardon

House Committee:  Transportation and Infrastructure

Senate Committee:  Transportation

CONTENT

The bill would amend Public Act 354 of 1925, which regulates the construction, improvement, repair, and maintenance of bridges, to require the Department of Transportation to institute and implement a federally compliant and risk-based inspection plan for all bridges under its jurisdiction. Currently, the Department must institute a systematic plan of biennial inspection of all bridges under its jurisdiction.

The bill would take effect 90 days after it was enacted.

MCL 254.19a                                                           Legislative Analyst:  Drew Krogulecki

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact at the local level.  At the State level, according to the Department of Transportation, some resources currently spent on regular inspections of low-risk bridges would be shifted toward increased and more in-depth inspections of poor-rated bridges.  This could result in lower bridge maintenance costs in the long term, to the extent that 1) potential problems with poor-rated bridges were identified and addressed before those bridges deteriorated further, and 2) sufficient funds were available to remedy those identified problems.

Date Completed:  2-2-16                                                   Fiscal Analyst:  Glenn Steffens

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.