Acquisition combines WPS Engineering’s TxDOT bridge inspection expertise with BDI’s specialized testing, monitoring and NDE capabilities
Bridge Diagnostics, Inc. (BDI), a provider of structural testing, monitoring, inspection, nondestructive evaluation (NDE) and consulting services, has acquired WPS Engineering, LLC, a Texas-based bridge inspection company.
The acquisition expands BDI’s bridge inspection capabilities by combining WPS Engineering’s experience in routine inspections for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) with BDI’s specialized testing, structural monitoring and NDE services.
WPS Engineering Brings TxDOT Bridge Inspection Expertise
Founded in 2003 by Will Schutz, P.E., and Domi Schutz, WPS Engineering focuses on routine bridge inspections across Texas. The company is a qualified Prime Service Provider for the TxDOT Bridge Inspection Program and has secured four consecutive TxDOT inspection contracts.
WPS also has experience with AssetWise, TxDOT’s Bridge Management System, supporting inspection reporting and load rating activities for districts across the state.
Following the acquisition, all WPS employees will join BDI, while the company’s existing TxDOT contracts and district relationships will continue without interruption.
BDI Expands Specialized Bridge Evaluation Capabilities
The companies’ service portfolios are complementary, with WPS providing routine and cyclical bridge inspections while BDI delivers specialized services such as in-depth evaluations, structural health monitoring, NDE, bridge preservation strategies and asset management.
The combined organization will therefore provide bridge owners with inspection and evaluation capabilities spanning routine inspection cycles through advanced structural assessment and long-term monitoring.
“Texas has one of the largest and most actively managed bridge inventories in the country, and WPS has spent more than two decades earning the trust of TxDOT districts across the state,” said Darwin Nelson, P.E., CEO of BDI. “WPS has built an exceptional team with a reputation for accuracy, responsiveness, and doing the work right. Bringing WPS into BDI gives Texas bridge owners a single partner for both routine inspections and the specialized testing and monitoring needed to answer more complex questions about a structure.”
Acquisition Supports BDI’s Texas Expansion
The acquisition follows BDI’s recent investments in the Texas market, including the appointment of Graham Bettis, P.E., as Vice President in 2025. Bettis previously served as Director of the TxDOT Bridge Division and Texas State Bridge Engineer.
Troy Smildzins, Managing Partner of Carmelina Capital Partners, said the acquisition supports BDI’s strategy of expanding its infrastructure services capabilities through complementary expertise and established client relationships.
“We see a significant opportunity to continue building BDI into a broader and even more capable infrastructure services company,” said Troy Smildzins, Managing Partner of Carmelina Capital Partners. “WPS is exactly the kind of addition we want to make – a highly respected team with deep client relationships, a strong reputation in its market, and capabilities that complement BDI’s existing expertise. We are committed to supporting BDI’s continued investment in its people, technical capabilities, and strategic growth.”
WPS to Continue Leading Routine Inspection Services
Will Schutz will continue leading the combined organization’s routine bridge inspection services in Texas. His role is expected to support continuity for existing clients and employees while contributing to BDI’s expansion of inspection capabilities across the state.
“When we started WPS in 2003, our goal was to do one thing exceptionally well: deliver inspections our clients could rely on,” said Will Schutz, P.E., co-owner of WPS Engineering. “Joining BDI lets our team keep doing that work while giving our clients access to capabilities we could not previously offer, from load testing to structural health monitoring. For our people, it means more resources, greater technical depth, and additional opportunities to grow.”
