NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - State To Take Close Look At Highway Sign Safety

State To Take Close Look At Highway Sign Safety

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- The State is getting ready to take a close look at the highway signs like the one that fell on I-65 Monday. The giant sign fell onto the Interstate near an exit which leads to the Cool Springs Galleria.

The sign didn't hit anyone, but it did cause some wrecks that sent four people to the hospital. T-DOT now plans to inspect 600 highway signs across the state like the one that fell.

According to officials big-rig trucks could have caused the 15,000 pound interstate sign to collapse.

Tennessee Department of Transportation officials said worn metal contributed to the fall.

"We have had some issues with the bolts, the sign structure. We've had some issues with the bolts breaking, but never a failure of this nature that caused it just to completely collapse on the roadway," said TDOT spokeswoman BJ Doughty.

TDOT inspectors also said prolonged exposure to wind created by passing tractor-trailers may have contributed to the problem. 

The sign was installed 15 years ago. The last time it was inspected was in 2000, with some follow-up maintenance in 2002. TDOT said they followed federal guidelines in taking care of the exit signs.

The four people taken to the hospital included two children; the adults suffered minor injuries.