Posted on 05/11/2021 12:27:11 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Across Missouri, about 900 state road and highway bridges are rated in “poor” condition by Missouri Department of Transportation inspectors. In Southwest Missouri alone, that number is a little more than 200.
MoDOT officials say the problem — money, or the lack there of — is not anything new. Without a big infusion of new money coming into the state’s road budget, the number of bridges with a “poor” designation likely won’t improve much. and while sources for new revenue are on state and federal tables, they still have obstacles that would have to be overcome.
MoDOT officials say being listed as in poor condition doesn’t mean a bridge is unsafe.
A poor-condition bridge might be functionally obsolete, or it might have specific parts that are showing wear and need work but do not pose a danger to motorists, cyclists or pedestrians. If inspectors find evidence that any bridge is unsafe for traffic, the department closes it immediately. It is just that, as with most problems, the officials say, the longer they go without a fix, the bigger they become.
Steve Campbell, MoDOT district engineer based in Springfield, said the department works to replace or rebuild these poor-condition bridges on state or federal highways year-round, but as one comes off the poor list after reconstruction or replacement, another one is added when inspectors find problems.
“What we’ve seen for several years is as we replace bridges in what I consider an aggressive amount in large numbers, we unfortunately have a similar number that, upon inspection, fall into that lower category of poor,” Campbell said. “So we’re going to continue with what we are doing and hope that we can ... make some inroads and lower our number of poor condition bridges.”
(Excerpt) Read more at joplinglobe.com ...
PING!
Poor bridges and infrastructure. While others see disaster ahead, I see opportunity. I’m starting my ferry service soon to ferry motorists and pedestrians alike over the waters. I’ve started cutting logs and will be binding them together.
The reason they’re having money problems is every time they get more money they spend it on something else.
Fool me once...
Got one near us. In a valley and on a curve, it’s also narrow. Not much fund in the winter with snow/ice on the road. Can’t go too slow down the hill, else you won’t make it up the hill on the other side. Don’t want to be doing anything but going straight on the bridge because it’s more slippery than the road.
They replaced one last year in the other direction. It was a one way bridge, too narrow for two vehicles side by side and of course, one end is at the bottom of a hill/end of curve.
These things were built a long time ago. Some have seen Model T traffic.
fund=fun
There are poor bridges and dams all across the US.
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