Road conditions worry motorists most during winter months but for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, road conditions are a year-round concern.

For the last few weeks, survey technicians have been measuring and assessing the condition of bridges along Route 143.

“Our company does survey jobs,” Fred Stewart of Navarro and Wright, Inc. said. “Private contractors do a lot of PennDOT work.”

“As survey technicians we map out the area [creating] 3D maps, and then we give a detailed report of what’s here,” Lee Runshaw said.

Specialized equipment is used to measure and record data relative to property boundaries and geographic features, before engineers begin construction projects.

The two survey techs have been assessing “500 feet on each side of the bridges,” Stewart said. “Eventually [the findings] make their way to PennDOT.”

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “Survey technicians make precise measurements of the land to determine property boundaries and surface contours for construction projects.”

“It could take up to five years before you see [work begin],” Stewart said.

The work of surveyors has been historically important.

George Washington was a surveyor, a profession he pursued for over 50 years.

“Most of our founding fathers were surveyors,” Runshaw modestly said.