Name the three major bridge element groups inspected under NBIS.

• A. Deck and superstructure, substructure, and bearings/joints (including supports and connections).
• B. Pavement surface deterioration, guardrails, and traffic control devices.
• C. Subsurface geology, drainage, and channel alignment.
• D. Towers, cables, and anchors.

Answer: (A)

Three major bridge element groups inspected under NBIS are deck and superstructure, substructure, and bearings/joints (including supports and connections). The deck and superstructure form the upper load path from traffic into the structure, so inspectors evaluate surface and framing components that affect stiffness and load transfer—things like cracks, delamination, corrosion, potholes, and misalignment. The substructure carries those loads down to the foundation, so issues such as settlement, scour around footings, cracking in abutments or piers, and movement are critical to assess. Bearings and joints are the interfaces that allow movement and transfer loads between components; inspectors look for proper seating, adequate allowable movement, corrosion, leakage, and seal/joint wear to ensure they don’t impair load transfer or permit unintended movement. This grouping reflects NBIS’s focus on the main load path and movement interfaces, which is why it’s the best answer. The other options describe elements that aren’t the standard NBIS three major element groups.