Inspecting Northwest Territories’ longest bridge

Deh Cho Bridge Inspection & Management

The Government of Northwest Territories (GNWT) inspects and maintains over 300 bridges and culverts. For the last seven years, we have provided bridge management for the GNWT. Our role? Implementing our bridge management system (BMS) software, inspecting bridges, and training GNWT bridge inspection staff.

When GNWT wanted to complete a full inspection of the Deh Cho Bridge—a 1.1-kilometer-long bridge carrying Yellowknife Highway 3 over the fast-flowing Mackenzie River—they hired our team for help. The project started with an initial inspection so we could create a profile to enter into our BMS software. This allowed our team to calculate lifecycle costs and perform risk analyses.

Instead of traditional methods, we used our SPRAT-certified rope access inspectors. The approach provided GNWT with at least $30,000 in cost savings over the traditional method, which required expensive rental equipment and significant traffic control. The disruption to traffic was minimized to 2-3 days, greatly reducing traffic risks.

Now that the Deh Cho Bridge has its baseline profile in the BMS, GNWT can better manage its assets. Plus, the detailed bridge profile not only promotes safe travel, but it provides future reference for inspection and maintenance protocols.