In this chapter:

1. (1) “AASHTO manual” means the Manual for Bridge Evaluation as referenced in 23 CFR 650.305, on May 6, 2022, published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, 555 12_{t h} Street NW, Suite 1000 Washington, D.C. 20004.

   Note: As required by s. 227.21 (2), Stats., the Wisconsin attorney general approved adoption of these standards on August 25, 2025. Copies of these standards are on file with the department and the legislative reference bureau and may be reviewed at those locations. It is also available online at https://store.transportation.org. CFR Part 650 Subpart C Section 605.305 is available at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-23/chapter-I/subchapter-G/part-650/subpart-C.

2. (2) “BIRM” means the Bridge Inspector’s Reference Manual, 2022 NBIS, March 2023, publication no. FHWA-NHI-23-024.

   Note: As required by s. 227.21 (2), Stats., the Wisconsin attorney general approved adoption of these standards on August 25, 2025. Copies of these standards are on file with the department and the legislative reference bureau and may be reviewed at those locations. This manual is available through FHWA online at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/inspection/.

3. (3) “Bridge” means a structure, including supports, erected over a depression or an obstruction, such as water, highway, or railway, having a track or passageway for carrying traffic or other moving loads, and having an opening measured along the center of the roadway of more than 20 feet between the under copings of abutments or spring lines of arches, or extreme ends of openings for multiple boxes. It includes multiple pipes, where the clear distance between openings is less than half of the smaller contiguous opening.
4. (4) “Department” means the Wisconsin department of transportation.

5. (4m) “HSIS” means the Highway Structures Information System, which is the department’s electronic database used to store inventory and inspection reports and other structure records.

   Note: The HSIS database is available at https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/doing-bus/eng-consultants/cnslt-rsrces/strct/hsi.aspx.

6. (5) “Inspection” means the examination, evaluation, and assessment of the physical condition of a bridge or tunnel, the evaluation of the physical condition observed, and the reporting and documenting of the findings within the department’s Highway Structures Information System (HSIS).
7. (6) “Inventory” means the gathering and reporting of all the required items per the SNBI or the TOMIE.

8. (6g) “NBIS” means the National Bridge Inspection Standards as described in 23 CFR Part 650 Subpart C, published May 6, 2022.

   Note: As required by s. 227.21 (2), Stats., the Wisconsin attorney general approved adoption of these standards on August 25, 2025. Copies of these standards are on file with the department and the legislative reference bureau and may be reviewed at those locations. They are also available online at: https://store.transportation.org.

9. (6r) “NTIS” means the National Tunnel Inspection Standards as described in 23 CFR Part 650 Subpart E, published July 14, 2015.

   Note: As required by s. 227.21 (2), Stats., the Wisconsin attorney general approved adoption of these standards on August 25, 2025. Copies of these standards are on file with the department and the legislative reference bureau and may be reviewed at those locations. They are also available online at: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/inspection/tunnel/ntis.cfm.

10. (7) “Posting” means the placement of regulatory signs at a bridge or tunnel indicating the safe load−carrying capacity of the bridge or tunnel.
11. (8) “Rating” means determining the safe load−carrying capacity of a bridge or tunnel.

12. (9) “SIM” means the WisDOT Structure Inspection Manual.

    Note: SIM is available at: https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/doing-bus/eng-consultants/cnslt-rsrces/strct/inspection-manual.aspx

13. (10) “SNBI” means the Specifications for the National Bridge Inventory publication no. FHWA-HIF-22-017, published March 2022 with errata #1 March 2024.

    Note: As required by s. 227.21 (2), Stats., the Wisconsin attorney general approved adoption of these standards on August 25, 2025. Copies of these standards are on file with the department and the legislative reference bureau and may be reviewed at those locations. SNBI is available through FHWA online at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/snbi.cfm.

14. (11) “TOMIE” means the Tunnel Operation, Maintenance, Inspection, and Evaluation Manual publication no. FHWA-HIF-15.005, published July 2015.

    Note: As required by s. 227.21 (2), Stats., the Wisconsin attorney general approved adoption of these standards on August 25, 2025. Copies of these standards are on file with the department and the legislative reference bureau and may be reviewed at those locations. TOMIE is available through FHWA online at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/inspection/tunnel/ntis.cfm.

15. (12) “Tunnel” means an enclosed roadway for motor vehicular traffic with vehicle access limited to portals, regardless of type of structure or method of construction. Tunnels are structures that require special design considerations which may include lighting, ventilation, fire protection systems, and emergency egress capacity. “Tunnel” does not include a structure classified as a bridge.

16. (13) “Wisconsin Bridge Manual” means the WisDOT Bridge Manual.

    Note: Wisconsin Bridge Manual is available at https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/doing-bus/eng-consultants/cnslt-rsrces/strct/bridge-manual.aspx

History

History: Cr. Register, February, 1982, No. 314, eff. 3-1-82; am. (1) and (8), Register, July, 1992, No. 439, eff. 8-1-92; correction in (3) to (6) and (8) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 1., Stats., Register, July, 1992, No. 439; am. (1) and (3), Register, July 1999, No. 523, eff. 8-1-99; EmR2509: emerg. cr. (intro.), am. (1), renum. (2), (3) to (3), (2) and am., am. (5), (6), cr. (6g), (6r), am. (7), (8), cr. (9) to (11), eff. 7-28-25; CR 25-022: cr. (intro.), am. (1), renum. (2), (3) to (3), (2) and am., cr. (4m), am. (5), (6), cr. (6g), (6r), am. (7), (8), cr. (9) to (13) Register March 2026 No. 843, eff. 4-1-26; correction in (1), (4m), (12) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register March 2026 No. 843.