(I’m bumping this to the top again: this just got covered in the Rutland Herald. – promoted by JulieWaters)
From the Sunday Times Argus.
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| From Drop Box |
BP posted the news about a steel truss bridge closing on Route 2 in Middlesex a couple of weeks ago, which led to brief discussion and resource links to AOT, once again provided by BP. Many thanks, my friend.
The problem of aging steel truss bridges is a lot bigger than most of us realize. It was refreshing to read Rep. Sue Minter appropriately expanding the scope of structural issues and transportation impact associated with all of the steel truss bridges across the state. From the June 6th Times Argus:
"What wears my patience thin is that the story of this bridge on Route 2 is something that's playing out in a lot of places in state," Minter says.
Commenting on BP's earlier diary, I discussed the quality of both the Taylor St and Granite St. bridges in Montpelier. But it's one thing to read state inspection reports, as versus taking a ride across the bridge in question in your car.
I can't get all of you in my car, so I decided to bring the bridge to you.
Below the fold: a special report in stills and video produced exclusively for GMD. But feel free to post it where ever you choose.
UPDATE: Some further comments: For career professionals at VTrans/AOT: This commentary does not criticize the good work you bring to the job every day. Please refer to my comment in the discussion in which I support your work. For Sec. David Dill: In my comments I also suggest that you are off to a good start in your leadership position. For AOT Spokesperson Mr. Zicconi: I defend my video commentary wholeheartedly and challenge you to quote me as presenting a report "riddled with inaccuracies." For Political Spokesperson Jason Gibbs: Political spin does not fix our bridges. Thank you in advance.
Great ,a very snazzy production,well done .It’s the illustrated underside of tax reductions,service cuts and differed maintenance.The underside of that bridge represents one crumbling part of the Vermont economy under Gov.Jim Douglas’s management.
One technical video question: canoe, kayak or waders ?
Nate,
I think you have a future as an investigative blogger!
Steve
I would be remiss if this link wasn’t here also .Find the condition of a bridge near you .
http://www.timesargus.com/apps…
categories : Functionally obsolete ,Structurally deficient and not deficient
In Tunbridge, where I’m a selectman, we’ve got one of these rusting steel bridges that a) recent inspection showed to be structurally compromised, and b) a whole bunch of people would go totally nuts if we closed it. It’s got me very nervous, because it simply has to be replaced, and we have approximately zero hope of getting help from the state on this.
Of course I’ll take the heat for closing it before I let people endanger themselves by crossing it, when it comes to that. But that is a decision no state government should put on the backs of its local officials.
I’ll have to check tomorrow and see if the bridge on the schedule to be replaced – my guess would be yes. Much like the Middlesex-Moretown bridge, many of them have been noted for replacement and already have designs finished (some 20 years ago!)…we simply don’t have the funding to do them.
Another common issue regarding the replacement of these is that many are designated as “historic” or gain that designation once people find out that it is going to be replaced. This is the case with the steel truss just after the railroad underpass in Bethel on Rt. 107, which is in worse condition than this one and there is still no sign of replacement plans. Similarly, the bridge in Randolph that was replaced a couple years back was in terrible shape before funding came through to go ahead with demolition and reconstruction.
I suppose my question would be to ask if people are willing to pay a huge sum of money in taxes to get the bridges replaced, the roads repaved, culverts re-lined or replaced? Money in the AOT budget is shifting to cover more preventative and replacement maintenance, but ultimately it is a question of raising public awareness that it’s going to take a good deal more money in tax dollars to put a dent in the backlog. I certainly can guarantee you that we at the AOT are aware of the deteriorating condition of our infrastructure.
“The underside of that bridge represents one crumbling part of the Vermont economy under Gov.Jim Douglas’s management.”
@BP: I am no fan of Gov. Douglas – however I need to make a point here. This is not something that the state has gotten into in the last 6 years, it has taken decades and decades of neglect and lack of funds to come to the head we see today. You can put this issue at the feet of not only Douglas, but also Dean, Snelling and Kunin. This is an issue that was raised on a few occasions back in the 70’s and 80’s, unfortunately little was done by any administration.
And finally, as my professor at VTC was fond of saying: “Structures often remain standing long after they should have failed, simply because they are in the habit of doing so.”
Their headline for this story is Officials defend ‘scary’ bridge.
Here’s my favorite line:
I’m somehow not comforted.
Great work Nate. I didn’t have a chance to view this video yesterday. I’m glad I got to it today.
Nate in the news … Times Argus article this way!
Damn bridge will forever be known as the “scary bridge” thanks to you, Nate.
Thanks for covering this Nate! Turning an abstract concept (our bridges need work) into a concrete visual is often all that’s needed for people to understand the real relevance and urgency the problem presents in their own lives.
BTW – I’ve taken the Granite St. bridge several times over the past few years. The bridge’s behavior the last time we were on it made me decide not to go that way anymore. Now I know why.
It felt exactly like the staircase in my High School library. A friend’s Dad had been involved in the school’s construction, and he absolutely refused to ever use those stairs because they hadn’t been built right. They were eventually replaced in a building expansion, but they were scary to walk down, having exactly the kind of “bounce” solid concrete is not known for.
Nate, others have said it already, but I’ve got to pile on. What a great report, great video. Very nicely done.
“”I think we have to beware of the untrained eye in making a determination of the condition and safety of a bridge,” he said.”
I think what John was trying to suggest is that he didn’t want people to panic and think that the bridge was going to collapse into the river tomorrow based on the video. Many people don’t look under the bridge (or even pay attention to the condition as they ride over it) and therefore may gain the wrong impression from the article.
This may or may not come across as defending a co-worker, but I know all too well that the general public can often take a report or story the wrong way. As our bridge inspectors know, while the swaying support is not an optimal situation, it is not an indication of imminent collapse – as some in the public might fear.
“The Taylor Street Bridge is categorized as “structurally deficient” by the state of Vermont and is scheduled for a $2 million rehabilitation next year.”
Looking at the budget spreadsheet for Structures, this bridge was slated to have a $500,000 rehab allotment for FY09, which is 2010. This is most likely going to be a temporary bridge and covering the costs of removal of the existing, followed up by a $1.66 million dollar allotment for FY10. I wasn’t able to find the project files for the bridge, so this would be my assumption on the phases being proposed.
Engineers can make concrete bend, bounce and curve if they wish – safely. It’s an amazingly ductile material when applied and designed correctly. That said, a 200’+ span bridge has to be made to bounce and flex with the loads running over it. Deflections and camber are built into the design, while it is true that as the bridge ages the deflections will increase (due to strain and fatigue), only a qualified engineer can make the call as to what is “too much”. If the bridge were unsafe for the loads required, they would restrict or close the bridge immediately.
James Cutler
I don’t necessarily think that a dangling, rusted-through support means the bridge is going to fall into the river any minute… but, in spite of my lack of a civil-engineering degree, I think I can safely conclude that it’s not a GOOD thing. I doubt it was engineered that way. (Bridge designer, 1928: “And this support will dangle off to the side at a crazy angle. It’s a conceptual thing.”)
I found Zicconi’s comment to be rather patronizing and kneejerk political. Maybe the T-A selectively quoted him, and maybe the full quote was along the lines of “Wow, that certainly looks bad, but we’ve got it under control.” Otherwise, Mr. Zicconi can issue all the caveats he wants about “untrained eyes,” but that bridge is in damn poor shape and he cannot convince me otherwise.
And I wouldn’t be surprised if someone from VTrans was out there in the near future, re-attaching that support — whether or not it makes any structural difference. They know a PR hit when they see it.
Wow! Thanks for the kudos! I’m humbled. 🙂
The video jumped to over 700 views in one day, so that seems like a good sign that people are taking notice.
Once again, for AOT employees, my primary message in the video is that we need to begin addressing the issue of steel truss bridge replacement sooner rather later. In fact, I spoke to a customer today whose spouse has worked at AOT for many, many years. The response was that AOT engineers have been raising this issue internally for quite some time, and that they probably appreciate the fact that our bridges may finally get the attention and funding they need.
I guess we all now know the power of video. 🙂
Hmmm – – it seems that if the bridge were properly rehabbed/replaced over time it wouldn’t hit the threshold of being a historic bridge – – it would constantly be either new or significantly changed to meet its purpose and lose its historic character.
PJ
This is a great discussion. I like the focus on what do we do from here. Infrastructure funding isn’t an issue to banter around for years. Something has to get done. I’d like to see our roads and bridges fixed, not just patched. There’s too much at stake – including safety and the state economy.
Early this winter two of the planks on the pedestrian section of the Granite Street Bridge were broken. I cross this everyday on my way to work, and I couldn’t help but notice that my 7 year old step-son could have easily slipped through a hole that size and into the water below.
The first day I saw it, I called City Hall and I was assured that someone would go check it out right away. The solution was: two orange cones! (until well into the thawed-out season). I understand there are probably complications to hammering a board into a bridge support in the middle of winter, but there was a clear danger there that cones didn’t address particularly well and I do not feel well taken care of.
Now there are two new planks nailed in, but the question this raises for me is: what is the level of priority that our local government assigns to addressing these dangerous bridge conditions?
Danziger !