bobski
Hunter
don't have tv by choice, so im curious which bridge is failing, the I40 or the older one further down river?
the bridge in memphis
- Thread starter bobski
- Start date
Type "closed Memphis bridge" in the intertubez search engine of your choice.
Lots of reading material pops up.
Lots of reading material pops up.
Bridge isn't failing, but has a failed member. It will be interesting to follow the gummint procedures involved in its repair. :wink:
Further coverage . . . https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2021/05/19/memphis-bridge-photos-show-fracture-hernando-de-soto-bridge-began-earlier/5163249001/
Further coverage . . . https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2021/05/19/memphis-bridge-photos-show-fracture-hernando-de-soto-bridge-began-earlier/5163249001/
Bob Wright
Hawkeye
All the news media refer to it as a crack. "Crack" my hind foot! It is a failure of one of the members near the connection. The only reason it is not at the bottom of the River is that it is being held in place by horizontal bracing under the bridge deck.
Allegations have been made of poor design, but the member has been there forty years. Solution being emplaced is to reinforce the member with steel plates while a new member can be fabricated.
Bob Wright
Allegations have been made of poor design, but the member has been there forty years. Solution being emplaced is to reinforce the member with steel plates while a new member can be fabricated.
Bob Wright
OP
bobski
Hunter
so traffic is being diverted to the older RT55 bridge?
So do the locals think this fix will be good enough?
I can see on Google Maps, where the bridge is closed and the traffic is backed up. But it seems only the East bound traffic on 40 is delayed.
OP
bobski
Hunter
sad. all that time and money dumped into upgrading the approach on the west Memphis side...now this. im glad I elected to try a new route to my cabin in mo. I haven't been thru Memphis for 2 years now. I go thru ill/ky.
My brother is about to leave Georgia for a trip out west toward southern Utah. We talked about the bridge issue and he has made alternate plans for his trip.
toysoldier
Hunter
Any "patch" has to be carefully thought out, as stress could be transferred to other parts that might fail.
Muley Gil
Blackhawk
I heard the guvment has ordered a 55 gallon drum of JB Weld. 
wheelgun1958
Hunter
No worry's. Money for 'infrastructure' is on the way.
:roll:
:roll:
"I heard the guvment has ordered a 55 gallon drum of JB Weld."
Close to the comments I saw on one of the ag forums. That's a 3'x3' square tubing support. One guy suggested they send him 50# of 6011 welding rod, a new safety harness, and a couple of 3'x8' slabs of 1/2" steel plate and he'd have the "crack" scabbed in a few hours. Don't drive semi's on the bridge but it would not be likely to fall into the river.
This was at the point when there were nearly 1000 grain barges backed up on the river. Everyone has priorities. If your priority isn't crossing the river, simply closing the bridge is a suitable alternative.
Also note, that "crack" didn't happen overnight unless there was an earthquake or similar. If no earthquake, then inspection was lax and some hwy employee needs to be hung from that spot as encouragement for better inspection of other structures.
Close to the comments I saw on one of the ag forums. That's a 3'x3' square tubing support. One guy suggested they send him 50# of 6011 welding rod, a new safety harness, and a couple of 3'x8' slabs of 1/2" steel plate and he'd have the "crack" scabbed in a few hours. Don't drive semi's on the bridge but it would not be likely to fall into the river.
This was at the point when there were nearly 1000 grain barges backed up on the river. Everyone has priorities. If your priority isn't crossing the river, simply closing the bridge is a suitable alternative.
Also note, that "crack" didn't happen overnight unless there was an earthquake or similar. If no earthquake, then inspection was lax and some hwy employee needs to be hung from that spot as encouragement for better inspection of other structures.
It now appears that the crack was there as long ago as 2016.
The inspector has been fired.
The inspector has been fired.
OP
bobski
Hunter
ya gotta admit whatever backup was in place to keep it together was a well thought out design................
From the pics I saw, the bridge deck was supporting itself and the broken support structure.
My daughter and son-in-law just went to Memphis today from Austin. They used 55.
32magfan
Blackhawk
I have crossed that bridge a time or two, most recently in 2019, on trips the NW Arkansas for work. I would probably go the Ky/MO route now to avoid the mess around 55 traffic.
I also saw where the bridge inspector was unwilling to use the standard and approved safety equipment that is necessary to actually see the outside beams with human eyes. :roll: The article also stated that the inspectors were not given drones to do the inspections until 2019. :roll:
I’m sure that Biden has a “shovel ready” Billon or two to do a couple of million dollars worth of work to patch it. It would take five years just to do the environmental impact studies to build a new one. :roll:
Sorry there are so many eye rolls but this one deserves them to the power of ten!!
Thanks,
32Magfan
I also saw where the bridge inspector was unwilling to use the standard and approved safety equipment that is necessary to actually see the outside beams with human eyes. :roll: The article also stated that the inspectors were not given drones to do the inspections until 2019. :roll:
I’m sure that Biden has a “shovel ready” Billon or two to do a couple of million dollars worth of work to patch it. It would take five years just to do the environmental impact studies to build a new one. :roll:
Sorry there are so many eye rolls but this one deserves them to the power of ten!!
Thanks,
32Magfan
