The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is introducing advanced truck Weigh In Motion (WIM) technology to a major bridge in Providence.
RIDOT has teamed up with the measurement technology company Kistler to set up what is being called “the largest Digital Weigh In Motion (WIM) site in the world” across ten lanes on the Washington Bridge in Providence, Rhode Island. The goal is to “monitor and safeguard” the bridge’s structural integrity.
According to WPRI, crews began electrical work for the WIM system installation on September 3.
According to Kistler, “The WIM system includes Lineas Digital quartz sensors from Kistler placed just under the surface of the bridge’s roadway, charge amplifiers to condition electrical signals from the sensors, data loggers to process data in real-time and LPR cameras positioned to identify trucks by their class size and monitor for overweight wheel, axle and gross vehicle weight (GVW) loads.”
“The Kistler SHM and WIM systems are connected to share critical data and paint a picture of the bridge’s overall structural health in real-time. With this integrated data, bridge engineers and analysts can work with data on exact loads, axle weights and truck class to monitor the weight of trucks going across the bridge, as well as multiple measurements that assess the loads on the bridge structure to assess predictive maintenance requirements or be alerted to the need for emergency repairs,” the company said.
Kistler has not disclosed when the WIM installation project will be finished.
“With Kistler’s Digital Weigh In Motion sensors, we have the ability to hear and interpret every sound, even nearly inaudible sounds, emitted from a bridge that signal structural distress. This will enable us to work with RIDOT to proactively monitor the bridge’s structural health in real-time so they can take action to preserve this vital structure,” said JT Kirkpatrick, head of sales, Traffic Solutions, Kistler.
RIDOT is currently working on replacing part of the Washington Bridge. While one span is being removed, additional lanes have been added to the remaining span to maintain traffic flow. Kistler notes that the WIM technology will assist officials in monitoring the structural health of the remaining span during the construction of the new one.
In August 2024, Rhode Island officials filed a lawsuit against 13 companies involved in the design, construction, and inspection of the Washington Bridge, seeking accountability for the emergency closure in December 2023 caused by structural problems.
Before the closure, RIDOT reported that the Washington Bridge handled over 96,000 vehicles daily, making it one of the busiest sections of Interstate highway in Rhode Island.
