§ 151. — National bridge inspection program.
[Laws in effect as of January 7, 2003]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 7, 2003 and December 19, 2003]
[CITE: 23USC151]
TITLE 23--HIGHWAYS
CHAPTER 1--FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAYS
SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 151. National bridge inspection program
(a) National Bridge Inspection Standards.--The Secretary, in
consultation with the State transportation departments and interested
and knowledgeable private organizations and individuals, shall establish
national bridge inspection standards for the proper safety inspection
and evaluation of all highway bridges.
(b) Minimum Requirements of Inspection Standards.--The standards
established under subsection (a) shall, at a minimum--
(1) specify, in detail, the method by which such inspections
shall be carried out by the States;
(2) establish the maximum time period between inspections;
(3) establish the qualification for those charged with carrying
out the inspections;
(4) require each State to maintain and make available to the
Secretary upon request--
(A) written reports on the results of highway bridge
inspections together with notations of any action taken pursuant
to the findings of such inspections; and
(B) current inventory data for all highway bridges
reflecting the findings of the most recent highway bridge
inspections conducted; and
(5) establish a procedure for national certification of highway
bridge inspectors.
(c) Training Program for Bridge Inspectors.--The Secretary, in
cooperation with the State transportation departments, shall establish a
program designed to train appropriate governmental employees to carry
out highway bridge inspections. Such training program shall be revised
from time to time to take into account new and improved techniques.
(d) Availability of Funds.--To carry out this section, the Secretary
may use funds made available pursuant to the provisions of section
104(a), section 502, and section 144 of this title.
(Added Pub. L. 100-17, title I, Sec. 125(a), Apr. 2, 1987, 101 Stat.
166; amended Pub. L. 105-178, title I, Sec. 1212(a)(2)(A)(ii), title V,
Sec. 5119(e), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 193, 452.)
Prior Provisions
A prior section 151, added Pub. L. 93-87, title II, Sec. 205(a),
Aug. 13, 1973, 87 Stat. 284; amended Pub. L. 94-280, title II, Sec. 207,
May 5, 1976, 90 Stat. 454; Pub. L. 95-599, title I, Sec. 127, Nov. 6,
1978, 92 Stat. 2707; Pub. L. 96-470, title II, Sec. 209(c), Oct. 19,
1980, 94 Stat. 2245; Pub. L. 97-375, title I, Sec. 111(a), Dec. 21,
1982, 96 Stat. 1821, related to a pavement marking demonstration
program, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 100-17, title I, Sec. 125(a), Apr.
2, 1987, 101 Stat. 166.
Amendments
1998--Subsecs. (a), (c). Pub. L. 105-178, Sec. 1212(a)(2)(A)(ii),
substituted ``State transportation departments'' for ``State highway
departments''.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105-178, Sec. 5119(e), substituted ``section
502,'' for ``section 307(a),''.
