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D1 Bridge Crew recognized as
2018 Maintenance Crew of the Year

North Idaho may be the smallest ITD district in terms of square miles, but it ranks highest in square feet of bridge decks—and the three-man team responsible for their upkeep was recognized at the Idaho Transportation Board meeting last week as the 2018 Maintenance Crew of the Year.

T.J. Gibson, Tim Moon and Dylan Mitchem make up the team, and they oversee 279 structures, including some of the tallest in the state. Their knowledge of structural-maintenance tactics and materials allows them to lead the district in keeping new and old bridges in service.

“Without their experience, knowledge and dedication, we would constantly be in a state of emergency bridge repair and spending a huge part of our operations budget hiring contractors to maintain our bridges,” said DI Operations Engineer Jerry Wilson.

In the last year, their work included tandem inspections with the Boise-based inspection team of Jim Holland, Toby Griffin and René Leon. Before the Boise team arrived to inspect the Veterans Memorial Bridge, they were already flushing the structure’s drains, clearing trees from the piers and managing traffic to aid in the inspection. When that same team traveled further north to the bridge over the Moyie River, Clint Roney operated the other under-bridge inspection truck so the D1 crew could clean that structure as well.

Their team attitude didn’t go unnoticed by others; Griffin points to them as an example of excellent operations support during and after inspections.

The D1 bridge crew was also called last year to advise a construction outfit repairing two bridges on Interstate 90, providing guidance that was crucial to reopening the westbound structure for winter.

“They were heroes, and they didn’t have to come help us with our construction project,” D1 Resident Engineer Ryan Hawkins said. “Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to open it up for winter, and that would have been a danger for them and the public.”

According to their peers, they excel at managing their time and are always able to take on last-minute priorities. Their timely completion of repairs to underground waste oil sensors saved the department costly fines from the Department of Environmental Quality, increased insurance rates and adverse effects to the environment.

When they’re not working directly on D1 bridges, they lend their expertise to those outside of the district and keep the CDA service station clean and organized.

Perhaps Sandpoint maintenance foreman Jamie Miller summarizes the team the best: “They are absolutely amazing and true leaders in their work and with their workmanship.”