About Us
The NDOT Bridge Division sets and manages statewide bridge policies and procedures to ensure the safe design, construction, maintenance and operation of all Nebraska bridges, prioritizing public safety.
Our work is organized across three vital sections:
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Design
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Inspection
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Hydraulics
Dedicated to forward-thinking practices, the division emphasizes effective yet innovative design, efficient construction and proactive preservation strategies to maintain the state's bridge infrastructure.
Bridge Condition Information
Use the tools below for managing transportation assets.
Bridge Condition Report | Updated March 2024
Locally Owned Bridge Condition Report | Updated March 2024
Additional bridge information can be found through FHWA’s Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) Program.
County Bridge Match Program Information
The NDOT County Bridge Match Program (CBMP) assists Nebraska counties in funding bridge improvements to maintain and replace essential infrastructure.
Design
The NDOT Bridge Design Section offers statewide design expertise for bridge, culvert and related structure projects across Nebraska. The section is responsible for delivering comprehensive plans, specifications and cost estimates to ensure that all structures meet the standards for safety and reliability within the state’s transportation network.
Bridge Design Manual
The Bridge Design Manual (BDM) is the definitive design guide for NDOT bridge engineers, designers, detailers and consultants. This manual replaces the historic Bridge Operations Policy and Procedures (BOPP) as the official reference for bridge design practices and standards. With the gradual release of BDM chapters, each published chapter supersedes any relevant content in the BOPP upon its release. Until all sections of the BDM are fully published, any remaining guidance will continue to rely on the BOPP.
To keep the NDOT bridge community informed of updates, transmittals will accompany the release of each new BDM chapter, appendix or policy letter. These transmittals ensure that the latest standards and practices are communicated promptly and widely. All policies and guidance provided in a transmittal are considered effective as of the transmittal date or as specified within the document, allowing engineers, designers and consultants to adopt the most current standards in real-time.
BDM policy letters are issued to provide timely, interim updates to design policy, addressing urgent needs within the bridge community. These updates will be gradually integrated into the full BDM as each relevant section is completed or updated.
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Recent Updates to Manual |
Date Updated |
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November 12, 2024 |
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Bridge Design Manual – Complete |
Date Updated |
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NDOT Bridge Design Manual – Chapters 1, 5, 7, 9, 13Bridge Office Policies and Procedures (BOPP) Manual |
November 2024December 2016 |
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Chapters |
Date Updated |
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November 2024 |
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November 2024 |
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Chapter 2 – Preliminary Design |
TBD |
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Chapter 3 – Loads and Load Factors |
TBD |
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Chapter 4 – Structural Analysis |
TBD |
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November 2024 |
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Chapter 6 - Steel |
TBD |
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November 2024 |
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Chapter 8 – Reserved for future use |
TBD |
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TBD |
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Chapter 10 - Foundations |
TBD |
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Chapter 11 - Substructures |
TBD |
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Chapter 12 – Box Culverts |
TBD |
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November 2024 |
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Chapter 14 – Joints and Bearings |
TBD |
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Chapter 15 – Miscellaneous |
TBD |
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Appendix A – Special Provisions |
TBD |
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Appendix B – Base Sheets |
TBD |
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Appendix C – Plan Assembly and Drafting |
TBD |
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Appendix D – Miscellaneous Procedures |
TBD |
NDOT Design Consultant Information
This page offers extensive consultant information mainly regarding overall project delivery within the department along with roadway design standard information.
Structures Research
The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) emphasizes the importance of research to advance infrastructure knowledge and practices, particularly in areas such as structures engineering. Research at NDOT is driven by practical challenges and aimed at developing innovative, data-backed solutions to enhance safety, sustainability and resilience across Nebraska’s transportation systems.
By supporting projects that explore the behavior, durability and design of structural elements, NDOT seeks to improve materials, methods and standards. This research approach not only informs NDOT’s own practices, but also serves as a resource for engineers, policymakers and industry partners who benefit from NDOT’s findings. Regularly released publications and resources ensure that NDOT’s research insights are accessible, allowing for continuous improvement across the state's transportation network.
Recently Completed Research Projects
Click here for a comprehensive list of structures and geotechnical research.
Bridge Design Forms
Designers - utilize the following form to request design plans for reinforced concrete box culverts. Contact Jake Blessen with any questions.
Inspection and Load Rating
The NDOT Bridge Inspection and Load Rating team manages Nebraska’s National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) Program, ensuring that all bridges meet federal safety and inspection requirements. Their duties include developing and updating the NDOT Bridge Inspection Program (BIP) Manual and ensuring compliance with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) standards statewide. Resources, manuals and forms related to the bridge inspection program can be found below.
Upcoming Bridge Inspection Map
The upcoming bridge inspection map provides an overview of local bridge locations with inspections due in the next 90 days. By adjusting the layers in the top-right corner, users can view both state and local bridge inspections. Additional filters on the left side allow for more refined searches to customize the display, making it easy to track upcoming inspections across Nebraska’s bridge network.
View the Upcoming Bridge Inspection Map
The data for this map is sourced directly from NDOT records. Please notify NDOT of any issues found within this resource.
Bridge Inspection Program (BIP) Manual
The Bridge Inspection Program (BIP) Manual is the primary reference for Nebraska’s bridge inspection protocols, supporting NDOT engineers, inspectors and consultants in achieving uniform, high-quality inspections. As part of Nebraska’s National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) Program, the manual sets forth the procedures and compliance standards required by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to ensure bridge safety statewide.
To communicate updates and address evolving inspection needs, NDOT issues bulletins that provide interim guidance on specific topics within bridge inspection. These bulletins are designed to deliver timely updates, allowing inspection teams to implement the latest practices effectively and immediately. As the BIP Manual is revised, relevant bulletin guidance is incorporated into the manual, keeping Nebraska’s bridge inspection standards aligned with current practices and federal requirements. Other historical inspection program guidance is provided below.
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BIP Manual |
Updated |
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3/20/2020 |
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3/20/2020 |
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3/20/2020 |
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Bulletins |
Updated |
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12/06/2024 |
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9/17/2024 |
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6/12/2024 |
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5/15/2024 |
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5/15/2024 |
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5/15/2024 |
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NBIS Quality Assurance Reviews |
Updated |
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Other Historical Guidance |
Updated |
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4/17/2019 |
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Policy for Design, Load-Rating and Inspection of Public Road Bridges |
5/24/2010 |
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9/9/2024 |
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3/19/2009 |
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7/2/2008 |
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2/20/2008 |
AASHTOware Bridge Management (BrM) Use
NDOT utilizes the AASHTOware Bridge Management (BrM) system as the centralized platform for collecting, managing and analyzing bridge inspection data across Nebraska. All bridge inspections, whether conducted on state or local structures, are required to be documented and filed within NDOT’s BrM system, ensuring consistent data quality and facilitating effective bridge management and reporting.
New inspectors needing access should contact NDOT to obtain their login credentials, enabling them to enter and update inspection data as required. Once logged in, inspectors are encouraged to consult the system’s FAQ section for valuable guidance on BrM’s features, updates and best practices.
NDOT Inspection Forms
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BR 293: Fracture Critical Inspection Report Word Updated 1-18
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BR 293i: Fracture Critical Report Contents - Instructions Word Updated 2-13
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BR 465: Load Rating Summary Sheet Word Version 1.0 Updated 01-18
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NDOT 7: Scheduled Special Inspection - Bridge Report Word Updated 7-17
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NDOT 27: Structure Maintenance Checklist Word Updated 7-17
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NDOT 29: Unusual Feature Inspection List Word Updated 7-17
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NDOT 97: Nebraska Bridge Inspector Certification Approval Form Word Updated 7-17
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NDOT 317: Box Culvert Inspection Field Sketch Template PDF Updated 7-17
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NDOT 319: Bridge Inspection Field Sketch Template PDF Updated 7-17
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NDOT 320: Critical Finding Report Word Updated 7-17
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NDOT 320i: Instructions - Critical Finding Report Word Updated 7-17
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NDOT 321: Structure Repair Report (State Structures) Word Updated 7-17
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NDOT 321a: Structure Repair Report (Non-State Structures) Word Updated 7-17
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Load Rating Corrugated Metal Pipe (CMP) Structures Excel
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Field Measurement Forms PDF
Hydraulics
The NDOT Bridge Hydraulics Section provides statewide support for the hydraulic analysis and design of Nebraska’s highway bridges and related structures, ensuring they are safe and resilient against flood risks and water flow impacts. This section is responsible for developing hydraulic reports, design plans and specifications that adhere to state and federal standards. By assessing floodplain data and waterway dynamics, the Bridge Hydraulics team helps maintain effective drainage and flood management across Nebraska’s bridge network.
Hydraulic Analysis Guidelines
The hydraulic analysis will satisfy requirements of the FEDERAL-AID POLICY GUIDE, 23 CFR 650A (Location and Hydraulic Design of Encroachments on Flood Plains) and Federal Highway Administration Publication No. FHWA-IP-90-017 (Hydraulic Engineering Circular No. 18, Evaluating Scour at Bridges).
The hydraulic engineer is required to define the most practical design for all hydraulic-related issues. The analysis process evaluates, assesses and documents the impacts and consequences an encroachment has on the floodplain environment. The proposed design, countermeasure design and hydraulic-related design parameters are defined by considering hydraulic constraints, cost, risks, regulatory requirements, channel behavior, environmental impacts, engineering requirements and social concerns.
Structure sizing is based on hydraulic requirements for floods up to Q100. High risk sites may require sizing based on Q500 floods. The proposed structure is selected by hydraulically assessing NATURAL, EXISTING and ALTERNATE conditions.
Bridge foundation designs are checked for scour to verify the structure has a reasonable chance of surviving a Q500 flood.
The hydraulic study is based on surveyed cross-sections that define the 100-year floodplain. Normally, a minimum of one upstream cross-section, one downstream cross-section and one encroachment (bridge opening/road grade) cross-section is required. For minor action projects with minimal hydraulic risks, such as culvert extensions, approximate hydraulic calculations based on preliminary road survey data is acceptable. High risk, very complex sites may require the use of additional floodplain cross-sections and/or total station survey data.
For complete procedures and requirements related to bridge hydraulics, please refer to the Hydraulic Analysis Guidelines.
Bridge Hydraulic Forms
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BR 14: Hydrologic Reference Information PDF | Word Updated 4-15
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BR 359A: Preliminary Data Sheet (Bridge to Bridge) PDF | Word Updated 10-23
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BR 359B: Data Sheet (CBC) (Culvert to Culvert) PDF | Word Updated 11-22
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BR 359C: Data Sheet (CBC) (Bridge to Culvert) PDF | Word Updated 11-22
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BR 366: FEMA Certification and Compliance PDF | Word Updated 4-15
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BR 385C: Bridge Scour Plan of Action PDF | Word Updated 2-19
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BR 385F: Supplemental Hydraulic Findings & Maintenance PDF | Word Updated 4-15
