Fernando Carreno doesn’t have the most glamorous job. Much of his time is spent navigating through tight spaces underneath bridges.
But make no mistake – the work he does is critical.
Carreno is a senior bridge inspector with the Florida Department of Transportation. He’s been doing this type of work for nearly 20 years.
Ultimately, his job is done with you in mind – the people who drive over bridges every day.
“They need to know that they're safe,” Carreno said. “They need to know that there's a process in place.”
That process is specific. All bridges in Florida get inspected at least once every 2 years.
“We do a top to bottom and start-to-finish inspection, very thorough," Daniel Buidens, a manager with FDOT, explained.
Every year on the Gulf Coast, hundreds of bridges are inspected by FDOT or their contracted companies.
Some inspections – like those over water – are more extensive and require divers.
In the end, all bridges are given a score and rated as good, fair or poor.
Last month, Gulf Coast News discovered 12 bridges in poor condition in the six-county region. Some have been fixed recently. Most are still open and considered safe to drive over.
Buidens explained that a poor rating does not necessarily mean a bridge is unsafe, but it does prompt FDOT to plan a rehab project and could lead to more frequent inspections.
“Bridges are so important that when you look at the state's budget, bridge repair comes right off the top,” he said.
In Florida, bridges are generally strong. The state has among the lowest percentage of bridges in poor condition in the nation when compared to other states.
It’s something Carreno takes pride in, because he knows he’s maintaining more than just a bridge.
“I think there's a trust factor there that needs to be maintained for the public,” he said.
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