Barry Natchitoches
Has No Life - Lives on TB
My house has earthquake coverage - it is a separate policy, but I have it. Suburban Memphis here.
ALERT Memphis bridge closed
- Thread starter catskinner
- Start date
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
The bedrock can move due to quakes, and there have been a few smallish ones in western TN, and more than a few in eastern Arkansas, in the past year, so who knows how much shift has occurred.
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
It's going to affect tens of millions of people if it goes off at the same magnitudes in 1811/12
tiredude
Veteran Member
how long have you had it...... thats the question?
tiredude
Veteran Member
there is nobody here rolling in money and even that wont save you.......earthquake down here is catastrophic
hiwall
Has No Life - Lives on TB
The after effects would cause hardships to every American.
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
And probably some canadians and mexicans as well, the affects will be far reaching.
Barry Natchitoches
Has No Life - Lives on TB
It just renewed this month.
i originally got it back around the year 2004, but it is up for yearly renewal.
LibertyMom
Senior Member
Well here’s a new element to enliven discussion. Apparently the crack appears in photos from July 2019 or earlier. Question now is why didn’t that appear in the inspection report done in August 2019?
www.fox13memphis.com
May 14, 2021 at 11:28 am CDTBy FOX13Memphis.com News Staff and Jacque Masse, FOX13Memphis.com
The Arkansas Department of Transportation has confirmed there was evidence of damage on the I-40 bridge in 2019.
David Manasco shared a photo on Twitter showing what appeared to be the damage in 2019 which led FOX13 to press for answers about when the damage first appeared.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) has confirmed that an image captured by an inspector’s drone video shows evidence of damage in the same area of the fracture which caused the Interstate 40 Bridge to be shut down earlier this week, according to agency officials.
In May 2019, a video shows the evidence of the damage on the lower side of the bridge. ARDOT is now investigating to see if that damage was noted in a September 2019 inspection report and, if so, what actions were taken.
A new webpage dedicated to this closure of the I-40 Mississippi River Bridge is available. You can also stay current on this issue by following @myARDOT on Twitter and explore using the hashtag #40MSRiverBridge. Find additional information at IDriveArkansas.com or ARDOT.gov.”
ARDOT has scheduled a news conference for Monday afternoon with another update.
ORIGINAL REPORT THAT FOX13 BROUGHT TO YOU FIRST
When did the damage occur on the I-40 bridge? It may never be clear exactly when it happened, but one Twitter user took to social media to say it dates back at least to July 2019.
FOX13 is continuing to follow developments as the I-40 Bridge is closed indefinitely.
Pictures posted on Twitter show an image of the bridge with what appears to show the damage circled in red.
David Manasco is the user behind the Twitter post.
He tagged TDOT and ARDOT with the caption: “Well the I-40 crack started well before the 2019 inspection. Here is a shot I took in July 2019. You can see the crack was quite extensive at that point. Curious why this wasn’t caught in Aug 2019 inspection.”
FOX13 reached out to Manasco and he sent us the original, full-resolution file.
The metadata from the original file said the picture was taken in July 2019.
“When people are asking when did it start, we can use photos that were taken and see when it started potentially,” said Manasco.
Manasco said he snapped this picture on a riverboat tour in July of 2019.
In the photo, you can see a close-up of something that appears to be in the same spot on the Hernando-Desoto bridge as the fracture.
“I have the raw files. I’ve got 6 or 7 different angles. I can show them; it’s not been doctored or altered. I brightened it up so I can visibly see it. I have more than one photo so it’s not like I went into photo and draw a little line.”
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 2019 BRIDGE PHOTOS
ARDOT spokesperson Dave Parker said he is aware of the picture but doesn’t know who took it, where it came from or if it’s altered.
He said engineers believe the crack appeared suddenly and didn’t take years to form.
“From what we’ve seen in the last 48 hours, looking at everything, it does not appear to be a slow-developing crack months and months and months, years and years, it seems to be something that happened quickly,” said Parker.
Parker believes this is why crews didn’t discover the crack in the bridge earlier.
He said ARDOT and the consulting firm checked the bridge in 2019.
In 2020, ARDOT inspected it.
Then this year the engineering firm Michael Backer International discovered the crack.
“No one know if that fracture appeared two days after the inspection was concluded or in the last three weeks,” said Parker.
FOX13 went through dozens of videos of drone footage from previous years to see if there was a clear shot that showed the area where the fracture occurred.
In a video recorded in 2017, there was no apparent fracture. We also uncovered a photo from 2016 that showed the same thing.
FOX13 reported that a recent 2018 inspection rated the bridge as fair with no evidence of any trouble on the beams which support the bridge.
The bridge was also inspected in 2020.
Highway officials in Arkansas and Tennessee said they don’t know for sure what caused the damage in the I-40 Bridge.
he bridge has been closed since Tuesday afternoon after ARDOT consultants found a crack in the beam.
In audio from the 911 call, the consultant could be heard telling the operator that they needed to get everyone off the bridge.
CONFIRMED: 2019 video shows damage in fractured area of I-40 bridge, ARDOT says
The Arkansas Department of Transportation has confirmed there was evidence of damage on the I-40 bridge in 2019.
May 14, 2021 at 11:28 am CDTBy FOX13Memphis.com News Staff and Jacque Masse, FOX13Memphis.com
The Arkansas Department of Transportation has confirmed there was evidence of damage on the I-40 bridge in 2019.
David Manasco shared a photo on Twitter showing what appeared to be the damage in 2019 which led FOX13 to press for answers about when the damage first appeared.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) has confirmed that an image captured by an inspector’s drone video shows evidence of damage in the same area of the fracture which caused the Interstate 40 Bridge to be shut down earlier this week, according to agency officials.
In May 2019, a video shows the evidence of the damage on the lower side of the bridge. ARDOT is now investigating to see if that damage was noted in a September 2019 inspection report and, if so, what actions were taken.
A new webpage dedicated to this closure of the I-40 Mississippi River Bridge is available. You can also stay current on this issue by following @myARDOT on Twitter and explore using the hashtag #40MSRiverBridge. Find additional information at IDriveArkansas.com or ARDOT.gov.”
ARDOT has scheduled a news conference for Monday afternoon with another update.
ORIGINAL REPORT THAT FOX13 BROUGHT TO YOU FIRST
When did the damage occur on the I-40 bridge? It may never be clear exactly when it happened, but one Twitter user took to social media to say it dates back at least to July 2019.
FOX13 is continuing to follow developments as the I-40 Bridge is closed indefinitely.
Pictures posted on Twitter show an image of the bridge with what appears to show the damage circled in red.
David Manasco is the user behind the Twitter post.
He tagged TDOT and ARDOT with the caption: “Well the I-40 crack started well before the 2019 inspection. Here is a shot I took in July 2019. You can see the crack was quite extensive at that point. Curious why this wasn’t caught in Aug 2019 inspection.”
FOX13 reached out to Manasco and he sent us the original, full-resolution file.
The metadata from the original file said the picture was taken in July 2019.
“When people are asking when did it start, we can use photos that were taken and see when it started potentially,” said Manasco.
Manasco said he snapped this picture on a riverboat tour in July of 2019.
In the photo, you can see a close-up of something that appears to be in the same spot on the Hernando-Desoto bridge as the fracture.
“I have the raw files. I’ve got 6 or 7 different angles. I can show them; it’s not been doctored or altered. I brightened it up so I can visibly see it. I have more than one photo so it’s not like I went into photo and draw a little line.”
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 2019 BRIDGE PHOTOS
ARDOT spokesperson Dave Parker said he is aware of the picture but doesn’t know who took it, where it came from or if it’s altered.
He said engineers believe the crack appeared suddenly and didn’t take years to form.
“From what we’ve seen in the last 48 hours, looking at everything, it does not appear to be a slow-developing crack months and months and months, years and years, it seems to be something that happened quickly,” said Parker.
Parker believes this is why crews didn’t discover the crack in the bridge earlier.
He said ARDOT and the consulting firm checked the bridge in 2019.
In 2020, ARDOT inspected it.
Then this year the engineering firm Michael Backer International discovered the crack.
“No one know if that fracture appeared two days after the inspection was concluded or in the last three weeks,” said Parker.
FOX13 went through dozens of videos of drone footage from previous years to see if there was a clear shot that showed the area where the fracture occurred.
In a video recorded in 2017, there was no apparent fracture. We also uncovered a photo from 2016 that showed the same thing.
FOX13 reported that a recent 2018 inspection rated the bridge as fair with no evidence of any trouble on the beams which support the bridge.
The bridge was also inspected in 2020.
Highway officials in Arkansas and Tennessee said they don’t know for sure what caused the damage in the I-40 Bridge.
he bridge has been closed since Tuesday afternoon after ARDOT consultants found a crack in the beam.
In audio from the 911 call, the consultant could be heard telling the operator that they needed to get everyone off the bridge.
medic38572
TB Fanatic
You are right several years ago it was reported that if you make a dot starting in Nashville Tn and go out 750 miles in a ring 75% of the US population lives in that circle.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Nashville?
medic38572
TB Fanatic
Nashville!
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Ok. I misunderstood what you were talking about. I thought you might have meant to say Memphis, since the New Madrid was the topic.
medic38572
TB Fanatic
She said millions would be affected. She was right as like I said over 75% live with in 750 miles of Nashville. That covers most of the eastern seaboard and 750 miles west north and south.
Well here’s a new element to enliven discussion. Apparently the crack appears in photos from July 2019 or earlier. Question now is why didn’t that appear in the inspection report done in August 2019?
CONFIRMED: 2019 video shows damage in fractured area of I-40 bridge, ARDOT says
The Arkansas Department of Transportation has confirmed there was evidence of damage on the I-40 bridge in 2019.
May 14, 2021 at 11:28 am CDTBy FOX13Memphis.com News Staff and Jacque Masse, FOX13Memphis.com
The Arkansas Department of Transportation has confirmed there was evidence of damage on the I-40 bridge in 2019.
David Manasco shared a photo on Twitter showing what appeared to be the damage in 2019 which led FOX13 to press for answers about when the damage first appeared.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) has confirmed that an image captured by an inspector’s drone video shows evidence of damage in the same area of the fracture which caused the Interstate 40 Bridge to be shut down earlier this week, according to agency officials.
In May 2019, a video shows the evidence of the damage on the lower side of the bridge. ARDOT is now investigating to see if that damage was noted in a September 2019 inspection report and, if so, what actions were taken.
A new webpage dedicated to this closure of the I-40 Mississippi River Bridge is available. You can also stay current on this issue by following @myARDOT on Twitter and explore using the hashtag #40MSRiverBridge. Find additional information at IDriveArkansas.com or ARDOT.gov.”
ARDOT has scheduled a news conference for Monday afternoon with another update.
ORIGINAL REPORT THAT FOX13 BROUGHT TO YOU FIRST
When did the damage occur on the I-40 bridge? It may never be clear exactly when it happened, but one Twitter user took to social media to say it dates back at least to July 2019.
FOX13 is continuing to follow developments as the I-40 Bridge is closed indefinitely.
Pictures posted on Twitter show an image of the bridge with what appears to show the damage circled in red.
David Manasco is the user behind the Twitter post.
He tagged TDOT and ARDOT with the caption: “Well the I-40 crack started well before the 2019 inspection. Here is a shot I took in July 2019. You can see the crack was quite extensive at that point. Curious why this wasn’t caught in Aug 2019 inspection.”
FOX13 reached out to Manasco and he sent us the original, full-resolution file.
The metadata from the original file said the picture was taken in July 2019.
“When people are asking when did it start, we can use photos that were taken and see when it started potentially,” said Manasco.
Manasco said he snapped this picture on a riverboat tour in July of 2019.
In the photo, you can see a close-up of something that appears to be in the same spot on the Hernando-Desoto bridge as the fracture.
“I have the raw files. I’ve got 6 or 7 different angles. I can show them; it’s not been doctored or altered. I brightened it up so I can visibly see it. I have more than one photo so it’s not like I went into photo and draw a little line.”
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 2019 BRIDGE PHOTOS
ARDOT spokesperson Dave Parker said he is aware of the picture but doesn’t know who took it, where it came from or if it’s altered.
He said engineers believe the crack appeared suddenly and didn’t take years to form.
“From what we’ve seen in the last 48 hours, looking at everything, it does not appear to be a slow-developing crack months and months and months, years and years, it seems to be something that happened quickly,” said Parker.
Parker believes this is why crews didn’t discover the crack in the bridge earlier.
He said ARDOT and the consulting firm checked the bridge in 2019.
In 2020, ARDOT inspected it.
Then this year the engineering firm Michael Backer International discovered the crack.
“No one know if that fracture appeared two days after the inspection was concluded or in the last three weeks,” said Parker.
FOX13 went through dozens of videos of drone footage from previous years to see if there was a clear shot that showed the area where the fracture occurred.
In a video recorded in 2017, there was no apparent fracture. We also uncovered a photo from 2016 that showed the same thing.
FOX13 reported that a recent 2018 inspection rated the bridge as fair with no evidence of any trouble on the beams which support the bridge.
The bridge was also inspected in 2020.
Highway officials in Arkansas and Tennessee said they don’t know for sure what caused the damage in the I-40 Bridge.
he bridge has been closed since Tuesday afternoon after ARDOT consultants found a crack in the beam.
In audio from the 911 call, the consultant could be heard telling the operator that they needed to get everyone off the bridge.
Monday will likely be a Major CYA Stampede amongst all of the Federal, State, and Local agencies involved.
Schadenfreude on steroids.
-----
Schadenfreude (/ˈʃɑːdənfrɔɪdə/; German: [ˈʃaːdn̩ˌfʁɔʏ̯də] (
listen); lit. 'harm-joy') is the experience of pleasure, joy, or self-satisfaction that comes from learning of or witnessing the troubles, failures, or humiliation of another.Schadenfreude is a complex emotion where, rather than feeling sympathy, one takes pleasure from watching someone's misfortune. This emotion is displayed more in children than adults. However, adults also experience schadenfreude, although generally they conceal it.[1]
Schadenfreude is borrowed from German. It is a compound of Schaden, "damage, harm", and Freude, "joy". The German word was first mentioned in English texts in 1852 and 1867, and first used in English running text in 1895.[2] In German, it was first attested in the 1740s.[3]
Although common nouns normally are not capitalised in English, schadenfreude sometimes is capitalised following the German convention.
Schadenfreude - Wikipedia
von Koehler
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Bridges are a classic example of "White Supremacy" which in turn results in "White Privilege."
Historical footnote: guess how many bridges existed in pre-european sub-Saharan Africa?
It's not a trick question.
Historical footnote: guess how many bridges existed in pre-european sub-Saharan Africa?
It's not a trick question.
night driver
ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
Someone please adjust the title when we get back to bridge data please??
It's a little scary that we had just crossed the bridge on our motorcycles and were stopping for gas on the east side of Memphis on the way to Nashville when it popped up on my phone that the bridge had closed. We didn't know why, figured it was a wreck and found out that night what the cause was. One of my friends had his wife on the back of the bike and HAAAATES bridges. We definitely ribbed her once we found out about the crack lol
Firebird
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Always hated riding over that bridge in heavy traffic!
GingerN
Veteran Member
When I was writing it there, it was an endorsement on the policy, rather than a separate policy. This was with SF in the 90s. I do have a license for TN, currently, so let me run a quote and see what pops up. I no longer work for SF, so who knows. I haven't tried to write anything in that corner of the state in a while.
LibertyMom
Senior Member
Wow!!
'The fault lies with ARDOT': Inspector who failed for years to spot I-40 crack fired, could face charges
(Cell phone not cooperating—can someone else post full text?)
'The fault lies with ARDOT': Inspector who failed for years to spot I-40 crack fired, could face charges
(Cell phone not cooperating—can someone else post full text?)
'The fault lies with ARDOT': Inspector who failed for years to spot I-40 crack fired, could face charges
Arkansas Department of Transportation officials said an inspector who failed to notice the crack in the Hernando de Soto Bridge has been fired.
www.commercialappeal.com
bw
Fringe Ranger
Oh good, we have a scapegoat.
'The fault lies with ARDOT': Inspector who failed for years to spot I-40 crack fired, could face charges
Micaela A Watts
Memphis Commercial Appeal
An inspector who failed for years to spot a fracture that led to last week's sudden I-40 shutdown has been fired and could face charges, Arkansas officials said Monday.
Arkansas Department of Transportation officials confirmed the fracture that halted traffic on the I-40 bridge has existed since 2019, and was overlooked by an employee of the department.
"From our investigation we have determined the same employee who conducted the inspection in 2019 and 2020 failed to carry out his responsibilities correctly," said ARDOT Director Lorie Tudor. The employee, she said, was terminated from his position Monday morning.
Maintenance and upkeep of the bridge is split between Arkansas and Tennessee. Arkansas is responsible for annual inspections and Tennessee is responsible for repairs.
The engineering firm contracted by ARDOT, Michael Baker LLC, was not responsible for the oversight, Tudor said. Michael Baker was tasked with inspecting the top half of the bridge, not the lower structure.
And while a drone video captured by the engineering firm shows the fracture, the portion of the drone video showing the damage was less than a second long out of a five-hour drone video.
Tudor characterized the failure of ARDOT to notice the damage depicted in the drone video as inexcusable, and said the department would overhaul its processes to introduce more checks and balances.
Bridge damage:Computer animation illustrates stresses on I-40 bridge that could have led to fracture
Fixing infrastructure:Biden administration points to I-40 bridge closure as it pushes infrastructure plan
"The fault lies with ARDOT," said Tudor. Moving forward, she said, ARDOT will be fully transparent during the repair process so as to regain public trust. Bridges in Arkansas previously inspected by the terminated employee will be re-inspected immediately.
Arkansas to build in 'redundancies' to bridge inspections
ARDOT initially disclosed the prior evidence of the fractured steel box beam on Friday, hours after Twitter user David Manasco posted photos of the I-40 bridge that he took while on a riverboat cruise. The photos, taken on July 31, 2019, show a split in a steel box beam in what appears to be the same location as the photos provided by both ARDOT and the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Traffic on and under the bridge that connects Memphis to West Memphis, Arkansas was halted on Tuesday after Michael Baker inspectors discovered the fractured steel box beam and immediately called 911 for assistance in shutting down the bridge.
Tudor said her department was grateful for the work of Michael Baker — the discovery by its employees, she said, likely saved lives and thwarted disaster.
The U.S. Coast Guard gave the go-ahead for river traffic to resume underneath the bridge Friday morning after additional evaluation determined the bridge was not in imminent danger of collapse. Some 700 barges had been sitting idle on the Mississippi River between Tuesday afternoon and Friday morning before river traffic was allowed to resume.
Vehicular traffic was rerouted to the I-55 bridge, also known as the "old bridge" in the interim, which means traffic congestion on the four-lane bridge will likely continue.
While ARDOT officials implement structural changes within the department, plans for an interim fix on the bridge are being formulated, Tudor said. A multi-agency team worked throughout the weekend to develop the interim fix and contractors for the task are currently being reviewed.
Easy fix, or longterm challenge? Discussing plans to repair I-40 bridge or replace the section
ARDOT Deputy Director and Chief Engineer Rex Vines said he expects a contractor for the interim fix will be selected Monday afternoon. From there, he said, the agencies can begin to work on a timeline for bridge repairs both interim and permanent as well as the eventual reopening.
Summerthyme
Micaela A Watts
Memphis Commercial Appeal
An inspector who failed for years to spot a fracture that led to last week's sudden I-40 shutdown has been fired and could face charges, Arkansas officials said Monday.
Arkansas Department of Transportation officials confirmed the fracture that halted traffic on the I-40 bridge has existed since 2019, and was overlooked by an employee of the department.
"From our investigation we have determined the same employee who conducted the inspection in 2019 and 2020 failed to carry out his responsibilities correctly," said ARDOT Director Lorie Tudor. The employee, she said, was terminated from his position Monday morning.
Maintenance and upkeep of the bridge is split between Arkansas and Tennessee. Arkansas is responsible for annual inspections and Tennessee is responsible for repairs.
The engineering firm contracted by ARDOT, Michael Baker LLC, was not responsible for the oversight, Tudor said. Michael Baker was tasked with inspecting the top half of the bridge, not the lower structure.
And while a drone video captured by the engineering firm shows the fracture, the portion of the drone video showing the damage was less than a second long out of a five-hour drone video.
Tudor characterized the failure of ARDOT to notice the damage depicted in the drone video as inexcusable, and said the department would overhaul its processes to introduce more checks and balances.
Bridge damage:Computer animation illustrates stresses on I-40 bridge that could have led to fracture
Fixing infrastructure:Biden administration points to I-40 bridge closure as it pushes infrastructure plan
"The fault lies with ARDOT," said Tudor. Moving forward, she said, ARDOT will be fully transparent during the repair process so as to regain public trust. Bridges in Arkansas previously inspected by the terminated employee will be re-inspected immediately.
Arkansas to build in 'redundancies' to bridge inspections
ARDOT initially disclosed the prior evidence of the fractured steel box beam on Friday, hours after Twitter user David Manasco posted photos of the I-40 bridge that he took while on a riverboat cruise. The photos, taken on July 31, 2019, show a split in a steel box beam in what appears to be the same location as the photos provided by both ARDOT and the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Traffic on and under the bridge that connects Memphis to West Memphis, Arkansas was halted on Tuesday after Michael Baker inspectors discovered the fractured steel box beam and immediately called 911 for assistance in shutting down the bridge.
Tudor said her department was grateful for the work of Michael Baker — the discovery by its employees, she said, likely saved lives and thwarted disaster.
The U.S. Coast Guard gave the go-ahead for river traffic to resume underneath the bridge Friday morning after additional evaluation determined the bridge was not in imminent danger of collapse. Some 700 barges had been sitting idle on the Mississippi River between Tuesday afternoon and Friday morning before river traffic was allowed to resume.
Vehicular traffic was rerouted to the I-55 bridge, also known as the "old bridge" in the interim, which means traffic congestion on the four-lane bridge will likely continue.
While ARDOT officials implement structural changes within the department, plans for an interim fix on the bridge are being formulated, Tudor said. A multi-agency team worked throughout the weekend to develop the interim fix and contractors for the task are currently being reviewed.
Easy fix, or longterm challenge? Discussing plans to repair I-40 bridge or replace the section
ARDOT Deputy Director and Chief Engineer Rex Vines said he expects a contractor for the interim fix will be selected Monday afternoon. From there, he said, the agencies can begin to work on a timeline for bridge repairs both interim and permanent as well as the eventual reopening.
Summerthyme
night driver
ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
The crack at the top of your post, ST isn't the same crack we have been watching, NOR is it the crack in the blue circle since there are two (and more) bridge under-structure features that are NOT near the top pic crack.
Interesting. we will have to see what comes out of the interim planning phase.
Interesting. we will have to see what comes out of the interim planning phase.
night driver
ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
1.5 to 2 seconds out of 5 hours of film is pretty easy to miss if you blink now and then.
samus79
Veteran Member
'The fault lies with ARDOT': Inspector who failed for years to spot I-40 crack fired, could face charges
Micaela A Watts
Memphis Commercial Appeal
An inspector who failed for years to spot a fracture that led to last week's sudden I-40 shutdown has been fired and could face charges, Arkansas officials said Monday.
Arkansas Department of Transportation officials confirmed the fracture that halted traffic on the I-40 bridge has existed since 2019, and was overlooked by an employee of the department.
"From our investigation we have determined the same employee who conducted the inspection in 2019 and 2020 failed to carry out his responsibilities correctly," said ARDOT Director Lorie Tudor. The employee, she said, was terminated from his position Monday morning.
Maintenance and upkeep of the bridge is split between Arkansas and Tennessee. Arkansas is responsible for annual inspections and Tennessee is responsible for repairs.
The engineering firm contracted by ARDOT, Michael Baker LLC, was not responsible for the oversight, Tudor said. Michael Baker was tasked with inspecting the top half of the bridge, not the lower structure.
And while a drone video captured by the engineering firm shows the fracture, the portion of the drone video showing the damage was less than a second long out of a five-hour drone video.
Tudor characterized the failure of ARDOT to notice the damage depicted in the drone video as inexcusable, and said the department would overhaul its processes to introduce more checks and balances.
Bridge damage:Computer animation illustrates stresses on I-40 bridge that could have led to fracture
Fixing infrastructure:Biden administration points to I-40 bridge closure as it pushes infrastructure plan
"The fault lies with ARDOT," said Tudor. Moving forward, she said, ARDOT will be fully transparent during the repair process so as to regain public trust. Bridges in Arkansas previously inspected by the terminated employee will be re-inspected immediately.
Arkansas to build in 'redundancies' to bridge inspections
ARDOT initially disclosed the prior evidence of the fractured steel box beam on Friday, hours after Twitter user David Manasco posted photos of the I-40 bridge that he took while on a riverboat cruise. The photos, taken on July 31, 2019, show a split in a steel box beam in what appears to be the same location as the photos provided by both ARDOT and the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Traffic on and under the bridge that connects Memphis to West Memphis, Arkansas was halted on Tuesday after Michael Baker inspectors discovered the fractured steel box beam and immediately called 911 for assistance in shutting down the bridge.
Tudor said her department was grateful for the work of Michael Baker — the discovery by its employees, she said, likely saved lives and thwarted disaster.
The U.S. Coast Guard gave the go-ahead for river traffic to resume underneath the bridge Friday morning after additional evaluation determined the bridge was not in imminent danger of collapse. Some 700 barges had been sitting idle on the Mississippi River between Tuesday afternoon and Friday morning before river traffic was allowed to resume.
Vehicular traffic was rerouted to the I-55 bridge, also known as the "old bridge" in the interim, which means traffic congestion on the four-lane bridge will likely continue.
While ARDOT officials implement structural changes within the department, plans for an interim fix on the bridge are being formulated, Tudor said. A multi-agency team worked throughout the weekend to develop the interim fix and contractors for the task are currently being reviewed.
Easy fix, or longterm challenge? Discussing plans to repair I-40 bridge or replace the section
ARDOT Deputy Director and Chief Engineer Rex Vines said he expects a contractor for the interim fix will be selected Monday afternoon. From there, he said, the agencies can begin to work on a timeline for bridge repairs both interim and permanent as well as the eventual reopening.
Summerthyme
I bet this guy was just pencil whipping the inspections, government efficiency at its finest. What a joke.
bw
Fringe Ranger
Andromeda Strain - and one of the dumber moments of that film.
Barry Natchitoches
Has No Life - Lives on TB
OK, now i am confused.
Are you still talking about the New Madrid fault?
i would not be surprised to find that 75% of the US population lives within 750 miles of Nashville.
But New Madrid is close to Memphis, not Nashville.
Last edited:
Barry Natchitoches
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Eastern Arkansas has little in the line of hospitals or medical infrastructure. For decades now, they have relied on the Memphis, TN hospital system for their medical care.
But right now, the traffic is so bad on the old bridge (the one that is still up and running) that ambulances cant get through in anywhere near a timely manner.
Locals are now hearing reports of them airlifting Arkansas patients across the river. Others are being transported by BOAT.
This is getting to be a big problem for Arkansas residents...
But right now, the traffic is so bad on the old bridge (the one that is still up and running) that ambulances cant get through in anywhere near a timely manner.
Locals are now hearing reports of them airlifting Arkansas patients across the river. Others are being transported by BOAT.
This is getting to be a big problem for Arkansas residents...
medic38572
TB Fanatic
Correct
CaryC
Has No Life - Lives on TB
From what I understand they have it fixed. Son will be coming through there .....today, or tomorrow.
Arkansas Department of Transportation begins phase 2 of repairs on fractured I-40 Hernando de Soto bridge
Temporary brackets are in place around the fractured area of the Memphis bridge. The next step is the permanent steel plating.
Author: Ashley Godwin KTHV
Published: 7:36 AM CDT June 18, 2021
Updated: 3:36 PM CDT June 18, 2021
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — It's been more than a month since a major crack was discovered on the Hernando Desoto bridge, shutting it down completely.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation said the repairs are moving swiftly.
Phase 1 is now complete. Temporary brackets are in place around the fractured area. The next step is the permanent steel plating.
"Some of the materials are still being fabricated, being made. Some locally, some are not," Dave Parker, with the Arkansas Department of Transportation, said.
Currently, the I-40 bridge is not set to reopen until late July or early August.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation made traffic changes last week to keep cars moving, which included different detours for exits and opening a second lane of traffic on the I-55 bridge.
As for future bridge inspections, ARDOT will use $2 million from their budget to hire an independent consultant to look at the current bridge inspection program and make recommendations on any changes.
U.S. government agencies are checking out the process as well.
"The office of inspector general is looking at things. The federal highway administration is conducting an audit to look at our bridge inspection program. We welcome that," Parker said.
The following update is from the Tennessee Department of Transportation Friday:
The contractor is making significant progress on the repairs. The post-tensioning (PT) process could begin as soon as Sunday, but a lot of prep work must be done first. Crews are working day and night.
As a reference, this animation explains the process in very simple terms.
In-depth inspections of the bridge continue. If any issues are found during the repairs, it could affect the bridge's opening date. The safety of the workers and the public is our number one priority.
All interstate traffic in the Memphis area is being diverted to I-55. The second lane we added to the I-55 southbound ramp to help alleviate some congestion and advance flow through the Crump Interchange appears to be working. Comparing Week 2 (Thursday, May 20) after the I-40 Bridge Closure event to this week (Thursday, June 17), we have recorded the following percent change in the day to day peak travel delay numbers:
As for local traffic issues, TDOT is working with the city of Memphis to alleviate some of the downtown congestion by opening I-40 west from the I-40/I-240 interchange (midtown) up to the Danny Thomas (US 51) interchange.
To help you plan ahead, every Monday, we are posting estimated average travel delays for the week on our website so you can see which days and times to avoid. You can also view real-time digital message signs alerting you of any incidents.
TDOT HELP trucks are stationed on both sides of the I-55 bridge to respond quickly to any incidents and keep lanes open. Below are direct links to the TDOT SmartWay cameras posted at the east and west approaches of I-55 for live traffic information.
We are holding daily meetings with ARDOT, our consultants, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Memphis Police Department, and FHWA to develop and expedite the repair project while managing traffic along the alternate routes.
You can click here for the latest on traffic times and detour maps.
Find updates from the Tennessee Department of Transportation HERE.
www.localmemphis.com
Temporary brackets are in place around the fractured area of the Memphis bridge. The next step is the permanent steel plating.
Author: Ashley Godwin KTHV
Published: 7:36 AM CDT June 18, 2021
Updated: 3:36 PM CDT June 18, 2021
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — It's been more than a month since a major crack was discovered on the Hernando Desoto bridge, shutting it down completely.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation said the repairs are moving swiftly.
Phase 1 is now complete. Temporary brackets are in place around the fractured area. The next step is the permanent steel plating.
"Some of the materials are still being fabricated, being made. Some locally, some are not," Dave Parker, with the Arkansas Department of Transportation, said.
Currently, the I-40 bridge is not set to reopen until late July or early August.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation made traffic changes last week to keep cars moving, which included different detours for exits and opening a second lane of traffic on the I-55 bridge.
As for future bridge inspections, ARDOT will use $2 million from their budget to hire an independent consultant to look at the current bridge inspection program and make recommendations on any changes.
U.S. government agencies are checking out the process as well.
"The office of inspector general is looking at things. The federal highway administration is conducting an audit to look at our bridge inspection program. We welcome that," Parker said.
The following update is from the Tennessee Department of Transportation Friday:
The contractor is making significant progress on the repairs. The post-tensioning (PT) process could begin as soon as Sunday, but a lot of prep work must be done first. Crews are working day and night.
- Weldment/PT anchor installation is ongoing. Final drilling/bolting/welding will continue through today and tomorrow.
- Installation of PT bars has started. Work on this will continue through today and tonight and should be completed by Saturday.
- Offloading and installing PT equipment, jacks, etc., will start today and continue through the weekend.
- 24/7 operations started Wednesday night.
- Permanent plate fabrication has begun, and delivery of the first plates can be expected next week.
As a reference, this animation explains the process in very simple terms.
In-depth inspections of the bridge continue. If any issues are found during the repairs, it could affect the bridge's opening date. The safety of the workers and the public is our number one priority.
All interstate traffic in the Memphis area is being diverted to I-55. The second lane we added to the I-55 southbound ramp to help alleviate some congestion and advance flow through the Crump Interchange appears to be working. Comparing Week 2 (Thursday, May 20) after the I-40 Bridge Closure event to this week (Thursday, June 17), we have recorded the following percent change in the day to day peak travel delay numbers:
- SB saw a 77% reduction (55 minutes versus 16 minutes)
- NB saw a reduction of 51% (56 minutes to 27 minutes)
As for local traffic issues, TDOT is working with the city of Memphis to alleviate some of the downtown congestion by opening I-40 west from the I-40/I-240 interchange (midtown) up to the Danny Thomas (US 51) interchange.
To help you plan ahead, every Monday, we are posting estimated average travel delays for the week on our website so you can see which days and times to avoid. You can also view real-time digital message signs alerting you of any incidents.
TDOT HELP trucks are stationed on both sides of the I-55 bridge to respond quickly to any incidents and keep lanes open. Below are direct links to the TDOT SmartWay cameras posted at the east and west approaches of I-55 for live traffic information.
We are holding daily meetings with ARDOT, our consultants, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Memphis Police Department, and FHWA to develop and expedite the repair project while managing traffic along the alternate routes.
You can click here for the latest on traffic times and detour maps.
Find updates from the Tennessee Department of Transportation HERE.
Arkansas Department of Transportation begins phase 2 of repairs on fractured I-40 Hernando de Soto bridge
Temporary brackets are in place around the fractured area of the Memphis bridge. The next step is the permanent steel plating.
www.localmemphis.com
Also, there was a related article somewhere that said that the steel used to build that bridge had been determined by the DOT to be susceptible to cracking. So assuming there's any money left over in the huge "infrastructure" bill after they finish passing out the handouts and funding all the pointless liberal programs that are doomed to failure, maybe they can spend some on replacing that bridge with a more modern and higher-capacity span using a better grade of steel.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Arkansas Department of Transportation begins phase 2 of repairs on fractured I-40 Hernando de Soto bridge
Temporary brackets are in place around the fractured area of the Memphis bridge. The next step is the permanent steel plating.
Author: Ashley Godwin KTHV
Published: 7:36 AM CDT June 18, 2021
Updated: 3:36 PM CDT June 18, 2021
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — It's been more than a month since a major crack was discovered on the Hernando Desoto bridge, shutting it down completely.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation said the repairs are moving swiftly.
Phase 1 is now complete. Temporary brackets are in place around the fractured area. The next step is the permanent steel plating.
"Some of the materials are still being fabricated, being made. Some locally, some are not," Dave Parker, with the Arkansas Department of Transportation, said.
Currently, the I-40 bridge is not set to reopen until late July or early August.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation made traffic changes last week to keep cars moving, which included different detours for exits and opening a second lane of traffic on the I-55 bridge.
As for future bridge inspections, ARDOT will use $2 million from their budget to hire an independent consultant to look at the current bridge inspection program and make recommendations on any changes.
U.S. government agencies are checking out the process as well.
"The office of inspector general is looking at things. The federal highway administration is conducting an audit to look at our bridge inspection program. We welcome that," Parker said.
The following update is from the Tennessee Department of Transportation Friday:
The contractor is making significant progress on the repairs. The post-tensioning (PT) process could begin as soon as Sunday, but a lot of prep work must be done first. Crews are working day and night.
- Weldment/PT anchor installation is ongoing. Final drilling/bolting/welding will continue through today and tomorrow.
- Installation of PT bars has started. Work on this will continue through today and tonight and should be completed by Saturday.
- Offloading and installing PT equipment, jacks, etc., will start today and continue through the weekend.
- 24/7 operations started Wednesday night.
- Permanent plate fabrication has begun, and delivery of the first plates can be expected next week.
As a reference, this animation explains the process in very simple terms.
In-depth inspections of the bridge continue. If any issues are found during the repairs, it could affect the bridge's opening date. The safety of the workers and the public is our number one priority.
All interstate traffic in the Memphis area is being diverted to I-55. The second lane we added to the I-55 southbound ramp to help alleviate some congestion and advance flow through the Crump Interchange appears to be working. Comparing Week 2 (Thursday, May 20) after the I-40 Bridge Closure event to this week (Thursday, June 17), we have recorded the following percent change in the day to day peak travel delay numbers:
- SB saw a 77% reduction (55 minutes versus 16 minutes)
- NB saw a reduction of 51% (56 minutes to 27 minutes)
As for local traffic issues, TDOT is working with the city of Memphis to alleviate some of the downtown congestion by opening I-40 west from the I-40/I-240 interchange (midtown) up to the Danny Thomas (US 51) interchange.
To help you plan ahead, every Monday, we are posting estimated average travel delays for the week on our website so you can see which days and times to avoid. You can also view real-time digital message signs alerting you of any incidents.
TDOT HELP trucks are stationed on both sides of the I-55 bridge to respond quickly to any incidents and keep lanes open. Below are direct links to the TDOT SmartWay cameras posted at the east and west approaches of I-55 for live traffic information.
We are holding daily meetings with ARDOT, our consultants, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Memphis Police Department, and FHWA to develop and expedite the repair project while managing traffic along the alternate routes.
You can click here for the latest on traffic times and detour maps.
Find updates from the Tennessee Department of Transportation HERE.
Arkansas Department of Transportation begins phase 2 of repairs on fractured I-40 Hernando de Soto bridge
Temporary brackets are in place around the fractured area of the Memphis bridge. The next step is the permanent steel plating.
Thanks for that update. We'll have to notify our DS. He was planning to take the Memphis route coming home from Texas, instead of the Vicksburge route. The Memphis route is much shorter to our house.
CaryC
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Yeah me too thanks. Sometimes my understanding gets lost in space.Arkansas Department of Transportation begins phase 2 of repairs on fractured I-40 Hernando de Soto bridge
Temporary brackets are in place around the fractured area of the Memphis bridge. The next step is the permanent steel plating.
Author: Ashley Godwin KTHV
Published: 7:36 AM CDT June 18, 2021
Updated: 3:36 PM CDT June 18, 2021
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — It's been more than a month since a major crack was discovered on the Hernando Desoto bridge, shutting it down completely.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation said the repairs are moving swiftly.
Phase 1 is now complete. Temporary brackets are in place around the fractured area. The next step is the permanent steel plating.
"Some of the materials are still being fabricated, being made. Some locally, some are not," Dave Parker, with the Arkansas Department of Transportation, said.
Currently, the I-40 bridge is not set to reopen until late July or early August.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation made traffic changes last week to keep cars moving, which included different detours for exits and opening a second lane of traffic on the I-55 bridge.
As for future bridge inspections, ARDOT will use $2 million from their budget to hire an independent consultant to look at the current bridge inspection program and make recommendations on any changes.
U.S. government agencies are checking out the process as well.
"The office of inspector general is looking at things. The federal highway administration is conducting an audit to look at our bridge inspection program. We welcome that," Parker said.
The following update is from the Tennessee Department of Transportation Friday:
The contractor is making significant progress on the repairs. The post-tensioning (PT) process could begin as soon as Sunday, but a lot of prep work must be done first. Crews are working day and night.
- Weldment/PT anchor installation is ongoing. Final drilling/bolting/welding will continue through today and tomorrow.
- Installation of PT bars has started. Work on this will continue through today and tonight and should be completed by Saturday.
- Offloading and installing PT equipment, jacks, etc., will start today and continue through the weekend.
- 24/7 operations started Wednesday night.
- Permanent plate fabrication has begun, and delivery of the first plates can be expected next week.
As a reference, this animation explains the process in very simple terms.
In-depth inspections of the bridge continue. If any issues are found during the repairs, it could affect the bridge's opening date. The safety of the workers and the public is our number one priority.
All interstate traffic in the Memphis area is being diverted to I-55. The second lane we added to the I-55 southbound ramp to help alleviate some congestion and advance flow through the Crump Interchange appears to be working. Comparing Week 2 (Thursday, May 20) after the I-40 Bridge Closure event to this week (Thursday, June 17), we have recorded the following percent change in the day to day peak travel delay numbers:
- SB saw a 77% reduction (55 minutes versus 16 minutes)
- NB saw a reduction of 51% (56 minutes to 27 minutes)
As for local traffic issues, TDOT is working with the city of Memphis to alleviate some of the downtown congestion by opening I-40 west from the I-40/I-240 interchange (midtown) up to the Danny Thomas (US 51) interchange.
To help you plan ahead, every Monday, we are posting estimated average travel delays for the week on our website so you can see which days and times to avoid. You can also view real-time digital message signs alerting you of any incidents.
TDOT HELP trucks are stationed on both sides of the I-55 bridge to respond quickly to any incidents and keep lanes open. Below are direct links to the TDOT SmartWay cameras posted at the east and west approaches of I-55 for live traffic information.
We are holding daily meetings with ARDOT, our consultants, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Memphis Police Department, and FHWA to develop and expedite the repair project while managing traffic along the alternate routes.
You can click here for the latest on traffic times and detour maps.
Find updates from the Tennessee Department of Transportation HERE.
Arkansas Department of Transportation begins phase 2 of repairs on fractured I-40 Hernando de Soto bridge
Temporary brackets are in place around the fractured area of the Memphis bridge. The next step is the permanent steel plating.
He could still go through Memphis. The "old" bridge just upstream is still open. Depending on the time and day traffic shouldn't be that bad. Maybe try using a tool like Waze to see if the detours and traffic delays are bad enough to make the longer route necessary.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Yeah, it will all depend on the time he goes through Memphis. If in the early morning hours, say, 1-2am, he shouldn't have a problem. I don't know, yet, what time he plans to leave Texas. I do know that he'd much rather take the shorter route.