• Client: FDOT District 7

• First private consultant to perform bridge inspection services on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge
• Inspected interior and exterior of structure
• Used unique high level equipment to inspect stay cables & anchorages
• Provided detailed maintenance of traffic schemes

KCA provided bridge inspection services for the Sunshine Skyway toll bridges for Florida’s 7th District. As the primary focus of this contact KCA performed the routine NBI inspection of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is a 21,878 foot long bridge with the main span consisting of 1,200 foot long cable stay segmental box girder construction. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge crosses Tampa Bay and uniquely traverses three counties (Hillsborough, Pinellas and Manatee) and reaches over 400 feet above the bay at the main span pylons.

This 1996 routine inspection performed by KCA was the first to be performed on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge by a consultant. The inspection of this very complex and highly visible structure took precise coordination of numerous inspection teams and specialized access equipment to assure that the structure was thoroughly investigated with as little burden on the traveling public as possible.

Some of the specialized equipment needed to accomplish the work included a 60 foot under bridge inspection vehicle which deploys from the deck top and allows for the inspection of the bridge underside, a 170 foot aerial lift to access the stay cables of the main span and a motorized chair lift that traveled up and down a cable to inspect the pylons and the interior and exterior of the hollow precast columns.

The KCA team accomplished the field inspection of this monumental bridge in just 6 weeks and provided the client with what was the most in depth and highly detailed inspection report to date.