TDOT Finds “Heavy Collision Damage” to Bridge

An inspection by officials of the Tennessee Department of Transportation reveals “heavy collision damage” to the Veterans Memorial Bridge (overpass) on College Street and it will remain closed to traffic until repairs are made.
A TDOT official is recommending that proper signs and barricades be installed.
The damage was caused by a DeKalb County Landfill truck which hit the underside of the bridge Monday morning as it was traveling east on Broad Street. Although the truck carried no dumpster at the time, the lift was up. The driver, 54 year old Roger Chapman, received minor injuries and was cited by Smithville Police for speeding. The truck was totaled.
“This bridge sustained collision damage to the beams and deck by a waste disposal truck. We have completed the damage inspection and evaluation of this bridge,” wrote Wayne J. Seger, TDOT Director of Structures.
In an evaluation report to Ray Rucker, TDOT Transportation Regional Director, Seger defined the scope of the damage to the bridge.” This structure consists of four simply supported concrete deck girder spans with an asphalt wearing surface. The substructure is concrete.
“Beams “E” and “F” in span number 3 have sustained heavy collision damage near the midspan. It has resulted in large areas of spalled concrete with exposed damaged reinforcing steel. The area of spalling on beam “F” is nine feet long, one foot and six inches wide, and one foot deep. On beam “E” it is fifteen feet long, one foot and eight inches wide, and one foot and eight inches deep. In their present condition concrete beams “E” and “F” in span number 3 have no calculated live load carrying capacity,” wrote Seger.
“The deck and sidewalk on the right side of span number 3 have heavy cracking up to 1/8 inch wide extending all the way through the deck due to collision damage.”
“At the time of inspection, the bridge underpass was posted for a vertical clearance of thirteen feet and ten inches.”
Seger recommends that the bridge remain closed to all traffic and that proper signs and barricades be installed; that beams “E” and “F” be repaired or replaced; and and that the deck and sidewalk be repaired.
“After the beams, deck, and sidewalk have been satisfactorily completed, the bridge shall be re-opened to traffic without any restrictions,” wrote Seger.
Broad Street under the bridge will remain open.