U.P. company makes pitch to save money for taxpayers

Hancock, MI — Representatives from BridgeGuard have made a cost savings presentation to the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
During the presentation, representatives from the Hancock company shared potential cost savings of $10,000,000 annually for the State of Michigan through the use of their proprietary infrared bridge scoping technology.

In a press release, company representatives say existing technologies used to detect concrete delaminations and cracks cost an average of $0.52 per square foot for all of Michigan’s 4,406 trunkline bridge decks, but using BridgeGuard’s scoping technology a cost savings of up to $.40 per square foot could be achieved.

“With BridgeGuard’s technology, deck scoping can be executed at highway speeds, 50 mph or greater, allowing commerce to maintain a continuous flow and eliminating Road User Costs associated with delays or stoppages typically introduced with traditional bridge sounding techniques,” said Dorothy Ruohonen, BridgeGuard CEO.

There are about 4,400 state trunkline bridges in Michigan, all of which are monitored every two years per the Federal Highway Administration. By using BridgeGuard’s technology to scope the bridge decks for delaminations and cracks, the company says the State of Michigan would ultimately save taxpayer money.

“Our bridge scoping technology far exceeds the 1986 American Society for Nondestructive Testing standard and is an industry proven technology. We have contracts awarded in ten states and have demonstrated the technology in another 20 states across the country,” said Jay Ruohonen, BridgeGuard President.

Fin out more about the company at www.bridgeguard.net.