And the hits just keep coming. Memphis I40 bridge

[Sooner or later]

I see where the Memphis I40 bridge over the Mississippi has been shut down due to a crack. Traffic being rerouted to the I55 bridge. River traffic was also stopped.

A little updated info in this article.

https://www.localmemphis.com/article/traffic/i-40-hernando-de-soto-bridge-over-the-mississippi-river-is-closed-until-further-notice/522-659a7af1-107d-47ba-893d-9e1a32f2768e

Wednesday, the Tennessee Department of Transportation said it's "plausible" the I-40 Hernando de Soto bridge may not reopen to vehicles for months, not weeks.

The Coast Guard has also been notified to assist with barges on the Mississippi River on both sides of the I-40 bridge, currently docked until transportation teams give the go ahead for them to again pass through downtown Memphis on the water.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I've said it a million times, our country is crumbling.

[Tervuren]

Wow, I have no count of how many times I've crossed that bridge when traveling as a kid.

Always, every time, trying to catch a glimpse of the B17 on Mud Island.

Glad some one caught it before bigga badda crash.

[masraum]

That sounds like a pretty big deal. I'm not local and don't know anything about the area, but traffic on the Mississippi being stopped sounds like the US equivalent of the Suez thing.

And based on my knowledge of other places with bridges, having one bridge closed is probably going to make traffic in the area and over the other bridge fubar.

[Sooner or later]

They spent years upgrading the bridge to survive a New Madrid earthquake. I believe they finished the upgrades around 2014.

[GH85Carrera]

Years of stupid politicians wasting money on pet projects and making themselves rich, and no money left for the bridges. I just drove that bridge a months ago. I am glad I don't have to cross it again for a while.

[Jims5543]

Right as we were reopening last year, a major bridge in the area dropped some concrete below it. Some people sitting in an outdoor bar near it watched it happen and called the police.

I drove over that section of bridge 2 hours earlier heading out to dinner.

That night the entire bridge was closed in both directions while DOT inspected it.

The bridge is relatively new so this is far from a crumbling infrastructure deal. Seems it was poor craftsmanship.

Turned out to only be the southbound span. They opened up the northbound span a few weeks later to car traffic only. It is typically a 3 lane bridge, they made it 4 lanes wide with north and southbound traffic sharing it.

They put these crazy giant ass jack stands under it, some had Space X stamped on the side of them. The Space X insignia was on the blue stands facing away from me in this pic. You can see the crack in the bridge. It took them about 4 months to fix it.

[Jims5543]

When the closed our bridge what was once a 10 minute drive turned into a 45 minute commute to the next bridge over the river. This bridge connected the 2 towns to the north to the smaller town to the south, businesses that were struggling through the shut down took another hard hit as this cut off traffic from the area.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I've said it a million times, our country is crumbling.

Doing so rapidly it seems. Decades of squandering our tax dollars on pork and pet projects is starting to catch up with us.

[mattdavis11]

I've crossed that bridge 13 times if I recall correctly. Took US49 to Batesville the other.

My father grew up in the Memphis area, grad of HS in 1957?, north Southhaven, Tenn.

The first time crossing and back on the I40 bridge, was to get to Nashvegas. HS years for me, college reunion for them. Mom and Dad only, seeing the world, relief driving. Fond memories.

Next time I crossed the Mississippi, it was a trap!

[Baz]

The music was better back in the 70's too, BTW.......

[Baz]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Doing so rapidly it seems. Decades of squandering our tax dollars on pork and pet projects is starting to catch up with us.

Dub azz politicians who never ran a freaking business in their life...........all they know how to do is form committees and pay consultants for chit. Nothing gets done without a freaking committee. People on staff but hey....let's bring in (and pay) a consultant.

Outside consultant comes in and doesn't do jack.

That's where we are, folks....

[URY914]

Originally Posted by Baz

Dub azz politicians who never ran a freaking business in their life...........all they know how to do is form committees and pay consultants for chit. Nothing gets done without a freaking committee. People on staff but hey....let's bring in (and pay) a consultant.

Outside consultant comes in and doesn't do jack.

That's where we are, folks....

And many of those consultants bought new Porsches and are now Pelican members.

[Tervuren]

Bridges need maintence.
Nature is not builder.
Nature is decayer.
Nature works on bridges without cease.

Environment plays a factor, and yes, build quality.
Still, bridge's gonna need some fixin' some time or another same as roads.
Local to me.
https://www.wfae.org/south-carolina-news/2021-05-05/i-77-bridge-between-rock-hill-and-charlotte-closing-for-17-days

Seems to me the politicians had programs in place that identified a problem before people got killed.
And they'll get it fixed.

I guess more back up bridges be nice.
In city centers, where the room?

[black73]

No big loss. Only thing on the other side of that bridge is Arkansas.

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by black73

No big loss. Only thing on the other side of that bridge is Arkansas.

Then it is a big deal if you are in Arkansas.

[thor66]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I've said it a million times, our country is crumbling.

need to get an infrastructure bill passed

[Jims5543]

When our bridge was out the State DOT twitter feed was a really good way to get information. I suggest anyone impacted by this to check the Arkansas DOT Twitter feed regularly for updates.

@myARDOT


When our bridge was closed they initially said 1-2 year closure. 4 months later it was opened back up.

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by Baz

The music was better back in the 70's too, BTW.......

Your ears worked better in the 70's.

[rfuerst911sc]

Regardless of which political party you hang your hat with ( or not ) this country needs an infrastructure makeover . We have way too much aging roads/bridges/elect. grids/water treatment/sewage etc. etc. that needs to be fixed . Unfortunately it takes $$$ and the $$$ is managed by a bunch of morons .

So somehow we as a nation have to figure out how to pay for it . And how to do it with minimal waste ( insert laugh track ) . Do we stop being the worlds policeman for 15 years to pay for it ? Do we stop all foreign aid for 10 years to pay for it ? Do we force government ( not sure how ) to trim all fat from the budget to pay for it ? I don't pretend to have the answers but I got a lotta questions