I-40 Bridge over Mississippi river

chessie4905 · June 08, 2021, 01:18:16 PM

Don't plan on crossing the Mississippi here on any of your travels. I-40 bridge was closed in May due to a significant crack in one of the structure supports. Necessary to detour to the I-55 bridge. 5 mile traffic backup parking lot EVERY day.
Inspector passed it couple of months before. Has been fired, and all other bridges he passed need re-inspected.
A rumor has it that a kyaker passing under saw the crack 5 years ago, and reported it.
Now one news sounce says that repairs are waiting because Republicans are holding up the infrastructure bill.
Surprising for the amount of traffic, there are few bridges crossing the river in that general area.

Nova Eona · June 08, 2021, 01:36:37 PM

I read not long ago that a significant - double digits - percentage of bridges in this country are basically in the 'at risk of structural collapse' category. Just try to think light thoughts whenever you're crossing one of them.

luvrbus · June 08, 2021, 01:40:27 PM

Quote from: chessie4905 on June 08, 2021, 01:18:16 PM
Don't plan on crossing the Mississippi here on any of your travels. I-40 bridge was closed in May due to a significant crack in one of the structure supports. Necessary to detour to the I-55 bridge. 5 mile traffic backup parking lot EVERY day.
Inspector passed it couple of months before. Has been fired, and all other bridges he passed need re-inspected.
A rumor has it that a kyaker passing under saw the crack 5 years ago, and reported it.
Now one news sounce says that repairs are waiting because Republicans are holding up the infrastructure bill.
Surprising for the amount of traffic, there are few bridges crossing the river in that general area.

A few years back a bridge on I40 in Oklahoma was closed too, someone has to be blamed why not republicans since it a red state

Dave5Cs · June 08, 2021, 02:14:11 PM

Should we blame the people that don't live there? Is there a neighboring Blue state that you would preferrer.

luvrbus · June 08, 2021, 02:34:01 PM

Quote from: Dave5Cs on June 08, 2021, 02:14:11 PM
Should we blame the people that don't live there? Is there a neighboring Blue state that you would preferrer.

The way the system works is the Feds deal out the money to maintain the federal highways in each state and the states maintains or rebuilds bridges and hiways as the government sees fit, red.blue or pink makes no difference,like it not politics in Washington play a big part in what state gets the money lol I saw that in AZ when Brewer and Obama got into a pissing contest and Nv was booming with highway work under Harry Reid

Nova Eona · June 08, 2021, 02:35:10 PM

Split the difference and just blame the ultra-wealthy and the corporations from both 'sides' which decide what actually gets funding in this country.

chessie4905 · June 08, 2021, 02:41:50 PM

The condition of some of these roads here, makes me wonder when they dropped the standards be designated an interstate highway.

Dave5Cs · June 08, 2021, 03:10:42 PM

Well that explains I-10 in AZ, LOL glad I have all my teeth...

luvrbus · June 08, 2021, 03:36:10 PM

Quote from: Dave5Cs on June 08, 2021, 03:10:42 PM
Well that explains I-10 in AZ, LOL glad I have all my teeth...

Yep we didn't get money for 6 years here in AZ

uncle ned · June 08, 2021, 04:29:47 PM

I loved to go north and cross the Ohio on that big wide bridge built about 100 years ago.

than go across the other bridge over the Mississippi built close to 100 years ago.

Meet a tractor and trailer and you both came to a crawl to pass.

Had to watch your mirrors on both sides to be sure they cleared.

I think they finally removed them Not sure.

How about that BK

uncle Ned

6805eagleguy · June 08, 2021, 04:46:03 PM

There is a picture from a inspection drone from about 4 years ago that shows the beginning of the crack....

chessie4905 · June 08, 2021, 08:46:04 PM

Have you ever driven over the third , fourth or whatever highest level bridge down near Dallas? On a curve and a little hair raising in an suv.

luvrbus · June 09, 2021, 03:42:52 AM

Bridges are a marvel all the time and calculations spent designing that goes into one like the ones in Port Arthur and Baytown Texas

TwoFeathersRD · June 09, 2021, 05:15:38 AM

Shoot, we drove over the I40 bridge just days before. I guess we were lucky. I was always told not to trust the government. Lol.

richard5933 · June 09, 2021, 05:35:08 AM

I don't think things like this are limited to government errors. Lots of private businesses take short cuts and skimp on maintenance. Happens all the time and people die as a result.

Common factors to all these types of things, in my opinion, is human error, incompetence, and greed. Or a combination of them all.