General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhere will the next major bridge collapse occur?
I have this uneasy feeling again
http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/fact-sheet/bridges
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Solutions
Set a national goal that less than 15% of the nations bridges be classified as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete by 2013;
Increase transportation investment significantly at all levels of government to fund the needed repair, renovation, or reconstruction of the nations deficient bridges;
Implement an asset-management approach to maintaining bridges to achieve an appropriate balance between correcting immediate problems, conducting preventive maintenance, rehabilitating deficient bridges, and periodically replacing older bridges;
Update bridge-inspection standards and implement risk-based prioritization for the repair or reconstruction of the nations bridges;
Increase funding for long-term transportation research at the national level to ensure better performing and more resilient bridges.
Conditions
Usually built to last 50 years, the average bridge in our country is now 43 years old.1 According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, of the 600,905 bridges across the country as of December 2008, 72,868 (12.1%) were categorized as structurally deficient and 89,024 (14.8%) were categorized as functionally obsolete. From 20052008, the number of deficient (structurally deficient plus functionally obsolete) bridges in rural areas declined by 8,596. However, in urban areas during the same time frame, there was an increase of 2,817 deficient bridges.2 Put another way, in 2008 approximately one in four rural bridges were deficient, while one in three urban bridges were deficient. The urban impact is quite significant given the higher level of passenger and freight traffic.
A structurally deficient bridge may be closed or restrict traffic in accordance with weight limits because of limited structural capacity. These bridges are not unsafe, but must post limits for speed and weight. A functionally obsolete bridge has older design features and geometrics, and though not unsafe, cannot accommodate current traffic volumes, vehicle sizes, and weights. These restrictions not only contribute to traffic congestion, they also cause such major inconveniences as forcing emergency vehicles to take lengthy detours and lengthening the routes of school buses.
With truck miles nearly doubling over the past 20 years and many trucks carrying heavier loads, the spike in traffic is a significant factor in the deterioration of Americas bridges. Of the more than 3 trillion vehicle miles of travel over bridges each year, 223 billion miles come from trucks.1
YellowRubberDuckie
(19,736 posts)Sometimes I get stopped on them in traffic or because of stoplights, and I just kind of freeze and wonder what in the heck we would do it they fell. Luckily they wouldn't be long falls, but it would still hurt. A LOT.
spinbaby
(15,090 posts)We have more bridges than anyone--can't go anywhere without crossing a bridge. Lots are very old bridges, too. There's one over the parkway east near the tunnel that has a scaffolding kind of arrangement built under it to protect cars from falling chunks of concrete.
malaise
(268,982 posts)That's frightening
Junkdrawer
(27,993 posts)On April 2, 2007 large sections of the bridge were shut down for repair. The repair project was expected to finish on November 1, 2007. While the project did not complete on time, by late November all barricades had been removed and all lanes were again open.[4] During the bridge rehabilitation, bike lanes were added along the outer sides of both the northbound and southbound traffic lanes.
On February 8, 2008 the bridge was closed for inspection after a motorist called 911 when the deck dropped several inches. PennDOT indicated that one of the rockers that support bridge beams slipped [2] and "feels it is in the best interest of the traveling public to close the outbound lanes at this time and conduct a thorough inspection to ensure the integrity of the structure. [3] In the early morning hours of Monday, March 3, 2008, the southbound deck reopened for to serve traffic in both directions, cars and buses only. On September 8, 2008, the northbound deck fully reopened and northbound traffic was relocated to it. The inner lane of the southbound deck remained closed, and southbound trucks were still barred from the span.
...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Bridge
Ever see the show "Life After People"? Good description of our roads and bridges.
dragonlady
(3,577 posts)into adding lanes to freeways so commuters can get there a few minutes sooner.
lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)taterguy
(29,582 posts)Unless you don't consider the Bonner Bridge to be major.
The folks who live on Hatteras think it's major.
malaise
(268,982 posts)taterguy
(29,582 posts)The Bonner Bridge crosses Oregon Inlet. You take NC 12 down Hatteras to the Hatteras Inlet, which is where you take the tunnel to get to Ocracoke.
Seriously, it's in serious need of repair. There's a nasty fight brewing about the best way to do it. The cheapest and quickest way to replace it would endanger the Pea Island Wildlife Refuge.
20 years ago a span got knocked out by a barge in storm, made a helluva mess since the Bonner Bridge also supplies water and electricity to the island.
malaise
(268,982 posts)I found it - hope they repair your bridge
taterguy
(29,582 posts)The only reason they make so much effort to preserve access is that when they established the Cape Hatteras National Seashore that was part of the deal: Residents were guaranteed access in exchange for making most of the island off-limits to development.
However, every year it becomes more of a challenge. If there's another big storm this year they might just let Mother Nature take over.
Noodleboy13
(422 posts)Only 13 lost their lives when the I35 bridge collapsed. The amazing efforts of the first responders and the fact we have a top notch level 1 trauma center about a mile away kept it from being more tragic than it was.
That said, the fact that we are even worrying about out crumbling infrastructure is troubling. Bridges shouldn't collapse in a country as wealthy as ours.
peace,
Noodleboy
malaise
(268,982 posts)I really thought more people died in that catastrophe - neo-liberals don't care about infrastructure
AlinPA
(15,071 posts)blue neen
(12,319 posts)Emperor Tom Corbett fiddles while Pennsylvania falls apart.
"Pennsylvania has the largest percentage of structurally deficient bridges in the nation, according to a new report, leaving state officials to question where the money will come from to fix the problems."
The group Transportation for America released a report Wednesday saying Pennsylvania has 5,906 deficient bridges, about 26.5 percent of the 22,271 bridges in the state. Oklahoma ranked second with 22 percent of its bridges rated deficient, compared to 11.5 percent of all bridges nationwide, according to the report.
Pennsylvania has had the highest percentage of deficient bridges each year since 2007, according to the group, which promotes transportation spending. The worst bridges are in Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, the group says.
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/03/pennsylvania_tops_national_lis.html
malaise
(268,982 posts)Frightening indeed
blue neen
(12,319 posts)He did NOTHING for Pennsylvania except take the taxpayers money for his kids cyberschool (while actually residing in Virginia!)
stevedeshazer
(21,653 posts)A National Bridge Inventory sufficiency rating of 2 out of a possible score of 100.
That's right. 2 out of 100.
It's 85 years old. It's cracked in several places. 30,000 vehicles a day cross it.
The weight limit of 35 tons has been reduced to 10. Buses are diverted from it.
In 2008 the County injected glue in cracked sections of concrete to seal them against corrosive water and air. The County also monitors slope movement on the west side that could endanger the bridge.
http://www.sellwoodbridge.org/?p=frequently-asked-questions
malaise
(268,982 posts)Are you fugging serious?
stevedeshazer
(21,653 posts)Apparently there is a plan for a new bridge, no thanks to the Feds. Since we have a slightly Democratic-leaning state legislature, there are now plans to replace it.
$127 million - Multnomah County VRF ($19 per year vehicle registration fee)
$73.5 million - City of Portland (new revenues from the Oregon Jobs and Transportation Act)
$35 million - State of Oregon (Jobs and Transportation Act) for Highway 43 interchange
$17.7 million - Federal TIGER grant
$15.6 million - Previously secured federal fund
malaise
(268,982 posts)like American infrastructure paid.
This is frightening.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)They think if we go in the water they'll have a jump on escaping the car.
stevedeshazer
(21,653 posts)I'll go out of my way to take the Ross Island bridge, which is not very good either, or cross at Oregon City.
As I'm sure you know, it's become a political football between Multnomah and Clackamas counties. Clackistan voted down the five buck fee proposed on the ballot recently to say FU to Multnomah County. It's a mess.
If I were your kid, I'd hang on too.
The sad part is, neither county nor the state of Oregon has money and the feds are not forthcoming at all.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)On the plus side, we feel victorious every time we make it across safely.
malaise
(268,982 posts)Unfuggingbelievable!