I-40 Hernando de Soto bridge over the Mississippi River is closed because of a crack in the bridge

[SheltieLover]

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

The Arkansas Department of Transportation said a routine inspection revealed a crack requiring further investigation.

"Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) contract crews will begin emergency repairs on the I-40 Hernando DeSoto Bridge over the Mississippi River after a routine inspection uncovered a crack in the bottom side of the bridge truss. For the motoring public's safety, the bridge will be entirely shut down while crews investigate the crack's extent further and then repair the problem, which could take some time.

TDOT shares responsibility for the bridge with the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT). An ArDOT contractor discovered the problem during a routine inspection and immediately shut down the bridge. It is unclear, at this time, how long the repairs will take. Detours are in place in Tennessee and Arkansas. Traffic is being rerouted in both directions to I-55 as an alternate route across the river. River traffic is also shut down until further notice.

Mord at link.

[sheshe2]

1. Let me guess.

Tennessee is against the Infrastructure Bill.

[LonePirate]

9. Except for TN's 2 Dem House members, all of the AR and TN House members and Senators will vote No.

This build closure will not change any the Republicans' minds on the infrastructure bill/

[GulfCoast66]

2. Good god. What a cluster. I've been over that bridge many times.

This will create a huge backup. Once when planning to go across it from Arkansas to Tennessee there was a wreck on the bridge and traffic was diverted. There is no good highway from there to the crossing on I-20 at Vicksburg. It will add hours.

[captain queeg]

3. Wish I could see the crack. In concrete or steel?

My first job after college as a new engineer, one day all the managers were gone and they left me nominally in charge. The maintenance crew came and got me and showed me a steel beam on a lock gate had broken completely in two. For those who get it, was a 233 lb/ft wide flange. I was just a rookie but I knew that was bad and we didn’t want till fill the lock so I made the call to close it which stopped all the commercial River traffic. Fortunately it was the correct call and everyone up the chain agreed with my decision.

[Vogon_Glory]

4. I confess a sadistic wish that it would collapse,

Hopefully when nobody is on or below it. It’s time the folks down there learn what even their Dixiecrat Forebears knew: that infrastructure is important.

[misanthrope]

5. That's going to take a lot of duct tape

Too bad they can't mend it with tax cuts.

[Poiuyt]

6. If only we gave the billionaires more money

They would surely fix the bridge for us.

[hatrack]

7. Oh, I'm sure The Koch Brother will cover the cost . . .

After all, not only does he know what's best for society, but he's always been willing to help pay for the cost of civilization out of his own pocket.

[smirkymonkey]

8. One of these days, there is going to be a major deadly incident due to decaying infrastructure.

And it won't be Biden's fault. It will be the neglect of the republican politicians who have voted against an overhaul over the past 40 years and now we are at a crisis point.

Pete Butigieg is doing a great job so far and has a lot of great ideas, but there is only so much you can do when there has been decades of neglect due to republican incompetence and negligence.

I really hope that nothing tragic happens, but we have not dealt with this issue for such a long time, it is almost certain that there will be a tragedy in the foreseeable future.

[Vogon_Glory]

10. All too likely, except

that it will be not one but several incidents.