International Bridges and Tunnels Regulations (SOR/2009-17)

Interpretation

• 1 (1) The following definitions apply in these Regulations.

  Bridge Inspection Manual

  Bridge Inspection Manual means the Bridge Inspection Manual — Bridge Engineering Highways and Bridges, published by the Department of Public Works and Government Services, the English version of which is dated March 2001 and the French version of which is dated October 2005. (Manuel d’inspection des structures)

  Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code

  Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code means standard CAN/CSA-S6-06, Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code, November 2006, published by the Canadian Standards Association. (Code canadien sur le calcul des ponts routiers)

  detailed visual inspection

  detailed visual inspection means an element-by-element visual assessment (including hands-on inspection of fracture critical members) of the material defects, performance deficiencies and maintenance needs of an international bridge or tunnel. (inspection visuelle détaillée)

  engineer

  engineer means the holder of a licence from the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec or an association of professional engineers of a province of Canada or state of the United States. (ingénieur)

  Highway and Rail Transit Tunnel Inspection Manual

  Highway and Rail Transit Tunnel Inspection Manual means the Highway and Rail Transit Tunnel Inspection Manual (2005), published by the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration of the United States Department of Transportation. (Highway and Rail Transit Tunnel Inspection Manual)

  Manual for Condition Evaluation of Bridges

  Manual for Condition Evaluation of Bridges means the Manual for Condition Evaluation of Bridges, second edition, published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, including its 2001 and 2003 revisions. (Manual for Condition Evaluation of Bridges)

  Manuel d’évaluation de la capacité portante des structures

  Manuel d’évaluation de la capacité portante des structures means the Manuel d’évaluation de la capacité portante des structures, December 2005, published by the ministère des Transports du Québec. (Manuel d’évaluation de la capacité portante des structures)

  Manuel d’inspection des structures — Évaluation des dommages

  Manuel d’inspection des structures — Évaluation des dommages means the Manuel d’inspection des structures — Évaluation des dommages, December 2004, published by the ministère des Transports du Québec, including its November 2005 update. (Manuel d’inspection des structures — Évaluation des dommages)

  Minister

  Minister[Repealed, SOR/2012-33, s. 3]

  New York State Bridge Inspection Manual

  New York State Bridge Inspection Manual means the Bridge Inspection Manual — 1997, published by the Department of Transportation of the State of New York, including Addendum 1 dated April 1999 and Addendum 2 dated November 2001. (Bridge Inspection Manual de l’État de New York)

  Ontario Structure Inspection Manual

  Ontario Structure Inspection Manual means the Ontario Structure Inspection Manual (OSIM), October 2000, published by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario, including its November 2003 and April 2008 revisions. (Ontario Structure Inspection Manual)

  underwater inspection

  underwater inspection means a visual or tactual inspection of the submerged structural elements of an international bridge, including a scouring inspection of the bridge. (inspection sous-marine)

• (2) In the event of an inconsistency between a provision of any material incorporated by reference into these Regulations and any other provision of these Regulations, that other provision shall prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.

• (3) For the purposes of interpreting a document incorporated by reference into these Regulations, “should” shall be read to mean “shall”.

Application

• 2 (1) These Regulations apply in respect of the international bridges and tunnels listed in the schedule.

• (2) These Regulations do not apply in respect of railway bridges and tunnels.

PART 1Maintenance and Repair

Interpretation

3 The following definitions apply in this Part.

international bridge

international bridge means a bridge, or any part of it, that connects any place in Canada to any place outside Canada, and includes approaches to the bridge but does not include facilities related to the bridge. (pont international)

international tunnel

international tunnel means a tunnel, or any part of it, that connects any place in Canada to any place outside Canada, and includes approaches to the tunnel but does not include facilities related to the tunnel. (tunnel international)

team leader

team leader means, in respect of the inspection of an international bridge or international tunnel, an engineer who conducts the inspection or who exercises supervisory functions over a person who conducts the inspection, and who has

• (a) in the case of a bridge, a minimum of five years of experience in the design, construction, repair, maintenance and inspection of bridges; and

• (b) in the case of a tunnel, a minimum of five years of experience in the design, construction, repair, maintenance and inspection of tunnels, including their installed electrical, communication, mechanical and plumbing systems, and a knowledge of the standards and codes applicable to the construction and operation of tunnels. (chef d’équipe)

Inspection

• 4 (1) An owner of an international bridge shall ensure that a detailed visual inspection or an underwater inspection of the bridge is conducted in the manner set out in the

  • (a) Bridge Inspection Manual;

  • (b) Ontario Structure Inspection Manual;

  • (c) Manuel d’inspection des structures — Évaluation des dommages;

  • (d) Manual for Condition Evaluation of Bridges; or

  • (e) New York State Bridge Inspection Manual.

• (2) An owner of an international tunnel shall ensure that a detailed visual inspection or an inspection of the electrical, communication, mechanical and plumbing systems of the tunnel is conducted in the manner set out in the Highway and Rail Transit Tunnel Inspection Manual.

Frequency of Inspections — International Bridges

• 5 (1) An owner of an international bridge shall ensure that a detailed visual inspection of the bridge is conducted at least once every two years.

• (2) An owner of an international bridge shall ensure that an underwater inspection of the bridge is conducted at least once every five years.

Frequency of Inspections — International Tunnels

• 6 (1) An owner of an international tunnel shall ensure that a detailed visual inspection of the tunnel is conducted at least once every year.

• (2) An owner of an international tunnel shall ensure that an inspection of the electrical, communication, mechanical and plumbing systems of the tunnel is conducted at least once every year.

Inspection by the Minister

• 7 (1) The Minister may conduct an inspection of an international bridge or international tunnel after giving reasonable notice to the owner.

• (2) An owner of an international bridge or international tunnel shall allow the Minister access to the bridge or tunnel for inspection in accordance with the notice.

Reports

Obligation to Report

8 An owner of an international bridge or international tunnel shall submit to the Minister, for each inspection conducted under section 5 or 6, a report on the condition of the bridge or tunnel.

Contents of Report

• 9 (1) An owner of an international bridge or international tunnel shall ensure that the report referred to in section 8 contains at least the following information:

  • (a) the date of the inspection;

  • (b) the names of the persons who conducted the inspection;

  • (c) the elements of the international bridge or international tunnel that were inspected;

  • (d) in the case of an international tunnel, a list of the electrical, communication, mechanical and plumbing systems that were inspected;

  • (e) the utilities and their supports whose damage would have an impact on the safety of the international bridge or international tunnel;

  • (f) recommendations in respect of maintenance and repair projects, including recommendations as to when such projects must be completed and a list of maintenance work to be carried out;

  • (g) a list of inspections to be conducted following the inspection in respect of which the report is prepared, and a recommendation as to when those inspections must be completed;

  • (h) the maintenance work, major repairs and other work completed since the previous inspection report; and

  • (i) the special condition surveys, tests and other additional engineering investigations into the condition of the international bridge or international tunnel completed since the previous inspection report.

• (2) The owner shall ensure that the report is accompanied by a letter signed and sealed by two engineers, one of whom is the team leader, attesting to the correctness of the information in the report and providing a statement as to the overall condition of the structure.

Submission of Report

10 The owner of an international bridge or international tunnel shall submit the report referred to in section 8 within one month after the day on which it is approved by the owner but not more than six months after the day on which the inspection is completed.

Additional Engineering Investigations

11 An owner of an international bridge or international tunnel shall submit to the Minister a final report signed and sealed by two engineers, relating to a special condition survey, test or other additional engineering investigation conducted in respect of the bridge or tunnel, other than the evaluation referred to in section 12, within one month after the day on which the report is approved by the owner but not more than six months after the day on which the additional engineering investigation is completed.

Evaluation of the Load Carrying Capacity of an International Bridge

12 An owner of an international bridge shall ensure that an evaluation of the bridge’s capacity to carry traffic loads is conducted in accordance with the requirements set out in the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code, the Manual for Condition Evaluation of Bridges or the Manuel d’évaluation de la capacité portante des structures when any of the following occur:

• (a) observed or suspected defects, deterioration or damage that may affect load capacity;

• (b) an anticipated increase in actual or permitted traffic loading or in loading effect;

• (c) a change in road classification;

• (d) a review of the load limit that is posted;

• (e) an alteration to the bridge that may affect its live load carrying capacity;

• (f) an application for a permit to allow a vehicle not conforming to the load limit to cross the bridge; or

• (g) an unsatisfactory performance of the bridge in respect of serviceability or fatigue.

Load Carrying Capacity Evaluation Report

• 13 (1) An owner of an international bridge shall submit to the Minister a report on an evaluation of the bridge’s capacity to carry traffic loads within 60 days after the day on which the evaluation is completed.

• (2) The owner of the international bridge shall ensure that the report is signed and sealed by two engineers.

• (3) [Repealed, SOR/2012-33, s. 5]

PART 2Operations and Use

Reports

• 14 (1) Subject to subsection (2), an owner of an international bridge or tunnel shall submit to the Minister at least once every two years a report related to the operation and use of the bridge or tunnel.

• (2) The owner of the international bridge or tunnel shall ensure

  • (a) that the report covers a period starting at the end of the period covered by the previous report; and

  • (b) that the report is submitted within 90 days after the end of the period covered by the report.

• (3) [Repealed, SOR/2012-33, s. 6]