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Listing Of 'Deficient' And 'Structurally Obsolete Bridges'- State By State
MSNBC ^ | 8-2-07 | MSNBC

Posted on 08/05/2007 3:16:09 AM PDT by nancyvideo

As of 2005, 155,144 of the nations 592,473 bridges (26.2%) were rated structurally deficient or functionally obsolete - see how bridges in your state are ranked.

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: bridge; bridges; infrastructure; obsolete; transportation
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To: SierraWasp

Gee thanks! I ran to check the list to check on “our” bridge! Now I’m even more jittery crossing that monster.

I’ve tried to walk out on to it and just can’t do it! It scares the cr@p out of me! LOL!


101 posted on 08/06/2007 4:47:59 PM PDT by Randy Larsen (I'M WITH FRED!)
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To: Randy Larsen

I had the same problem on the Golden Gate bridge a couple weekends ago! I already had acraphobia (fear of heights) but now I’ve learned there’s another stupid phobia about crossing bridges called what sounds like bfearaphobia. I don’t know how it’s spelled as I only heard it said on the radio.


102 posted on 08/07/2007 10:50:08 AM PDT by SierraWasp (The American DemocratICK Party... Filled with GANG-GREEN, like CA's Repub Governor!!!)
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To: martin_fierro
It's a Burgh thing.
103 posted on 08/07/2007 10:52:45 AM PDT by Petronski (Just say no to Rudy McRomney.)
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To: Randy Larsen
What, I've climbed down to the catwalk on this bridge. We used to bring beer and go down to the concrete pylons that are three levels of stairs and drink under it.

You can't see it in the picture but the catwalk is in the middle below the two spans. You can see one of the pylons, just follow the green girders on the left side.

The good thing is we never got busted by the police. The more barriers they put up, the easier it was to access. I wonder if you can still get to the catwalk


104 posted on 08/07/2007 11:12:54 AM PDT by Lx (Do you like it, do you like it. Scott? I call it Mr. and Mrs. Tennerman chili.)
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To: 3catsanadog; agrace; airborne; Ayn Rand wannabe; Benrand; bloodmeridian; buzzyboop; ...
It's a 'Burgh


Thing.™

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Deficient 'Burgh Bridges

105 posted on 08/07/2007 11:14:26 AM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: nancyvideo

One of them in Ohio is adjacent to my property, and will result in the county buying four acres of my land....eventually.


106 posted on 08/07/2007 11:16:04 AM PDT by Badeye (You know its a kook site when they ban the word 'kook')
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To: martin_fierro

Some of those old link bridges would go down if a single link pin rusted through. Keep the paint fresh!


107 posted on 08/07/2007 11:18:38 AM PDT by RightWhale (It's Brecht's donkey, not mine)
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To: nancyvideo

bump...for publicity


108 posted on 08/07/2007 11:18:44 AM PDT by VOA
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To: MNJohnnie
It was build using 1960s The problem I see with this is the concept of Obsolete. It ain't like computers, how many bridges in Europe are pre-1960 "obsolete". These damned things should last longer then the Roman empire. Concrete and Steel is forever...until you get Water or Salt infiltration.

The question should be "what did they use for di-icing"? Otherwise, we need to replace the Golden Gate, ect. This whole thing is a tax scam.

109 posted on 08/07/2007 11:22:59 AM PDT by Dead Dog
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To: nancyvideo

Here in Pennsylvania, I have come to think of it as an adventure! Life with Fast Eddie Rendell.......


110 posted on 08/07/2007 11:46:55 AM PDT by trimom
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To: Dead Dog
Well yes and no. There probably is a problem with de-icing since they installed an automatic de-icing system on some of the bridges just a few years ago. Not real sure if this one has the system or not. There could be some unforeseen structural problems caused by that.

Here is what I am trying to say. We have learned a lot about building bridges over the years. Both with computer modeling and experience we understand now better how systems work. I guess obsolete is not the word so much as, not build with the redundancies modern bridges are built with. We also have a better technology.

For example, bridges in earthquake zones now have their rebar bent in a “cork screw” fashion (forgive me if I get this wrong because I am remembering a Science channel TV shows from years ago. It was one of the things we learned from the big earthquake out in California during the 1990s.

It isn’t that the engineering then was bad, it just that we have 40 years more experience and a whole host of tools that they did not have.

The point here is we, in Minnesota, could of upgraded that bridge any time since 1990 but choose instead to spend our “infrastructure” dollars on new projects and gimmicks. The problem here is not that the Government doesn't have enough money, but that it miss spends too much of the money it does have.

111 posted on 08/07/2007 1:13:58 PM PDT by MNJohnnie ("Todays (military's) task is three dimensional chess in the dark". General Rick Lynch in Baghdad)
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To: MNJohnnie

I see your point, however it is 40 years in a 2000 year old art.

We build silly bridges that load concrete in flexure (big horizontal beam, with the top section loaded in tension) Concrete is terrible in tension, it likes compression. So, we add steel tension cables to preload the span in compression. This works and keeps the entire cross section in compression. All is good until the steel fails (rust). The only reason we do this is architects hate arches. ...according to a CE friend of mine that builds bridges.

About the only thing we’ve added since the 60s is cost and some prefab capability.


112 posted on 08/07/2007 1:35:49 PM PDT by Dead Dog
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To: Dead Dog

You are saying steel is steel and we don’t know how to protect it better now then we did in the 1960s? That computer modeling doesn’t add anything to our understanding of how and why all the bridges that have failed since 1967 failed?

As someone who has been on and under this bridge that failed a bunch of times, I got to say, it sure looked like a poor design to me. Long spindly steel legs supporting a whole lot of concret WAY way way up in the air. However, not being an engineer I just always assumed they knew way more then me about their job.

So basically, what you are saying is it is bad design. That we could do a much better job?

Another question? How come my 1st car in the 1980s rusted so much and my current one doesn’t yet I have/had both the same amount of time? I assumed that meant we were better at protecting them now.


113 posted on 08/07/2007 1:45:15 PM PDT by MNJohnnie ("Todays (military's) task is three dimensional chess in the dark". General Rick Lynch in Baghdad)
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To: MNJohnnie

We haven’t learned enough to make enough of a difference to warrent changing out all of these bridges. If properly maintained they should last indefinately.

Advances in FEA and CAD are great if you want to reduce weight (FEA) or build to tighter tolerances. This is importantin autos and airplanes...Bridges are best left overbuilt and under engineerd. It’s cheaper and more durable that way.

As far as corrosion protection, sacrificial zinc is hard to beat. It would be interesting to see what is being used now. Probably nothing new.

If money as spent on maintenance instead of light rail (reflecting your frustration) then all of this infrustruction should last hundreds of years.


114 posted on 08/07/2007 1:56:21 PM PDT by Dead Dog
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To: Dead Dog

Thanks for the information. Most interesting. We have been slighting the things we should do here in MN


115 posted on 08/07/2007 2:02:06 PM PDT by MNJohnnie ("Todays (military's) task is three dimensional chess in the dark". General Rick Lynch in Baghdad)
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