Thu
Aug 2 2007
08:52 pm
Are our bridges safe?
By: R. Neal

A look around the South, at Facing South.

(Also check out Kevin at Lean Left re. the I-35W bridge disaster.)

UPDATE: Local officials and TDOT say bridges in East Tennessee are A-OK. Why is that not so comforting? (Note that they single out the Henley St. Bridge as being safe, but they don't mention the Gay Street bridge. Which has to make you wonder which one you should be more worried about.)

Topics:
Rachel's picture

The Gay Street Bridge was

Submitted by Rachel on Thu, 2007/08/02 - 10:32pm.

The Gay Street Bridge was completely renovated a couple of years ago. It should be fine.

Socialist With A Gold Card's picture

Gay St. bridge

Submitted by Socialist With ... on Fri, 2007/08/03 - 12:06am.

Rachel, I'm pretty sure the renovation on the Gay Street Bridge was resurfacing only. If memory serves (and it often doesn't, since I only have four brain cells left), the $16 million spent on the project merely rebuilt the road bed. It did not address the structure underneath, which I believe has been slated for significant overhaul within the next decade or so. I seem to remember a report or commentary by the US Army Corps of Engineers on the need for significant structural repairs (the total was somewhere around $100 million to fix it completely), but I'll be damned if I can find it right now.

My Googling sometimes sucks.

I'm going from memory here, so pardon me if I've totally hosed the facts. But I think this is the case.

--Socialist With A Gold Card

"I'm a socialist with a gold card. I firmly believe we need a revolution; I'm just concerned that I won't be able to get good moisturizer afterwards." -- Brett Butler

mjw's picture

Gay Street bridge work more than resurfacing

Submitted by mjw on Fri, 2007/08/03 - 1:17am.

Having watched the renovations for months, they spent a goodly amount of time down under the bridge, sandblasted old paint and surface rust off the metal structural components and repainted the whole thing. I'm sure they inspected and repaired the metal structual elements while they were clean. I don't know if they did any work on the piers.

redmondkr's picture

WBIR is showing a dozen

Submitted by redmondkr on Thu, 2007/08/02 - 10:44pm.

WBIR is showing a dozen Knoxville area bridges whose conditions are rated as poor although safe.

Visit us at

Wearybottom Associates

Somebody's picture

The Gay Street Bridge

Submitted by Somebody on Fri, 2007/08/03 - 10:12am.

The Gay Street Bridge received a complete overhaul. Prior to the work, there was a weight limit, which is a big clue that the bridge had stuctural issues. There is no longer a weight limit. I think that one is probably fine.

R. Neal's picture

KNS update: five E TN

Submitted by R. Neal on Fri, 2007/08/03 - 10:17am.

KNS update: five E TN bridges scheduled for immediate inspection, including Gay St. bridge...

(link...)

Somebody's picture

"The Gay Street Bridge in

Submitted by Somebody on Fri, 2007/08/03 - 10:20am.

"The Gay Street Bridge in Knox County is to be inspected, but the 110-year-old structure recently underwent a complete renovation. Repairs on the bridge took more than two years and cost $15.7 million. The bridge was reopened to traffic in April 2004."

R. Neal's picture

Here's some interesting

Submitted by R. Neal on Fri, 2007/08/03 - 10:28am.

Here's some interesting info:

(link...)

There are only 20 bridges in the state of TN built before 1905. The Gay St. Bridge was built in 1897:

Factchecker's picture

The few times I see the Gay

Submitted by Factchecker on Fri, 2007/08/03 - 12:58pm.

The few times I see the Gay St. bridge, it has very little traffic. It seems like it would take a frequent heavy load, including semi trucks, to make it give (if it can).

R. Neal's picture

would take a frequent heavy

Submitted by R. Neal on Fri, 2007/08/03 - 1:02pm.

would take a frequent heavy load, including semi trucks, to make it give (if it can).

In fact, it used to have frequent, daily semi-trucks with heavy loads of asphalt, molasses, and fuel from all the tank farms along the south waterfront. When you walked across and one of those trucks came by, the bridge felt pretty shaky at best.

Most of those tank farms are gone now, except the asphalt, and I'm not sure if trucks still come in and out of there or not.

Rachel's picture

As several folks have

Submitted by Rachel on Fri, 2007/08/03 - 5:33pm.

As several folks have pointed out, the Gay Street Bridge got a complete overhaul.

Randy, the asphalt trucks use the JWP bridge now.

Johnny Ringo's picture

Today

Submitted by Johnny Ringo on Fri, 2007/08/03 - 6:32pm.

At about 3:45 today, TDOT had the Gay Street Bridge partially closed and were inspecting the underside with a bucket truck.

Rachel's picture

The tee vee news said that

Submitted by Rachel on Fri, 2007/08/03 - 7:17pm.

The tee vee news said that the bridge was inspected because it's the same kind of bridge as the one who collapsed. Nobody thinks it has any problems; they were just being proactive.

My guess is that more bridges were inspected across the country today than in any day in history.

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