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Transport & Logistics · Updated Aug 2026

Bridge and Lock Tenders

Operate and tend bridges, canal locks, and lighthouses to permit marine passage on inland waterways, near shores, and at danger points in waterway passages. May supervise such operations. Includes drawbridge operators, lock operators, and slip bridge operators.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
AI Exposure
50/100
Moderate

How much of this occupation’s work can be materially affected by current AI systems.

Replacement Risk
47/100
Moderate

How likely exposure is to translate into reduced human demand.

Includes provisional estimates for AI adoption pressure and labour-market resilience. How this is measured

Evidence quality
Confidence80/100
Task coverage81%

Confidence reflects task coverage, mapping and capability-evidence quality, and how much of the score rests on provisional inputs.

Task-level evidence

What is driving the score?

Occupation scores are built from the task mix—not a single prediction about a job title.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
TaskImportanceAI impactExposure
Maintain and guard stations in bridges to check waterways for boat traffic.High
72
Control machinery to open and close canal locks and dams, railroad or highway drawbridges, or horizontally or vertically adjustable bridges.High
70
Record names, types, and destinations of vessels passing through bridge openings or locks, and numbers of trains or vehicles crossing bridges.High
71
Check that bridges are clear of vehicles and pedestrians prior to opening.High
72
Stop automobile and pedestrian traffic on bridges, and lower automobile gates prior to moving bridges.High
71
Attach ropes or cable lines to bitts on lock decks or wharfs to secure vessels.High
71
Inspect canal and bridge equipment, and areas, such as roadbeds, for damage or defects, reporting problems to supervisors as necessary.High
56
Direct movements of vessels in locks or bridge areas, using signals, telecommunication equipment, or loudspeakers.High
39
Observe approaching vessels to determine size and speed, and listen for whistle signals indicating desire to pass.High
37
Raise drawbridges and observe passage of water traffic or lower drawbridges and raise automobile gates.High
37
Observe position and progress of vessels to ensure best use of lock spaces or bridge opening spaces.High
32
Move levers to activate traffic signals, navigation lights, and alarms.High
18
Clean and lubricate equipment, and make minor repairs and adjustments.High
21
Perform maintenance duties, such as sweeping, painting, and yard work to keep facilities clean and in order.Medium
18
Most exposed

Where AI can do more

Routine, digitized, and highly repeatable tasks face the greatest pressure.

  1. Maintain and guard stations in bridges to check waterways for boat traffic.72
  2. Check that bridges are clear of vehicles and pedestrians prior to opening.72
  3. Record names, types, and destinations of vessels passing through bridge openings or locks, and numbers of trains or vehicles crossing bridges.71
  4. Stop automobile and pedestrian traffic on bridges, and lower automobile gates prior to moving bridges.71
Hardest to automate

Where people still matter

These tasks score lowest on automation feasibility—physical presence, judgement, accountability and real-world variability all resist end-to-end automation.

  1. Move levers to activate traffic signals, navigation lights, and alarms.01
  2. Perform maintenance duties, such as sweeping, painting, and yard work to keep facilities clean and in order.02
  3. Clean and lubricate equipment, and make minor repairs and adjustments.03
  4. Observe position and progress of vessels to ensure best use of lock spaces or bridge opening spaces.04
  5. Direct movements of vessels in locks or bridge areas, using signals, telecommunication equipment, or loudspeakers.05
Where else this work leads

Related occupations

Occupations O*NET links to this one. Relatedness reflects shared work, not a claim that these roles are safer.

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Beyond AI capability

Adoption and labour-market outlook

Structural factors are kept separate from raw capability so you can see what actually resists automation. Adoption pressure and labour-market resilience are still provisional models—25% of this occupation’s replacement-risk weight rests on them.

Human dependency68
Physical dependency48
Adoption pressure49
Labour-market resilience59
Methodology & sources

O*NET 30.3 occupational data interpreted through the JobsVsAI capability, automation and structural-constraint models.

Confidence80/100
CalculatedAug 21, 2026
Read methodology →