TDOT Commish Outlines Status of Tennessee Bridges

Posted:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Days before the first anniversary of the fatal bridge collapse in Minneapolis, the Tennessee Department of Transportation commissioner detailed the status of the state's bridges.

The collapse spurred states to examine their own infrastructure. The bridge collapse killed 13 people and injured more than 100.

"Tennessee is fortunate to have one of the best transportation systems in the nation, including a first rate bridge program," said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely at a press conference Monday on Nashville's historic Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge. "We have invested more than $1.7 billion in bridges in the last two decades and will continue that commitment into the future."

He said that as of Jan. 31, 2008, only 2.4 percent of the state's interstate bridges are deficient. Almost 5 percent of all state-owned bridges are classified as structurally deficient. That could mean anything from having a pothole to requiring major construction.

Some of those bridges include one at Interstate 65 and 440 as well as Gallatin Road over Mansker's Creek.

Tennessee has the sixth lowest percentage of structurally deficient bridges in the country, according to Federal Highway Administration data.

Nicely said that there are no bridges open for traffic that are in trouble.

TDOT said it will cost $1.75 billion to repair all the state's deficient bridges.

TDOT received suggestions from the federal government as well as a peer study from other state transportation departments to do some increased inspections on bridges.

TDOT found nearly 200 bridges that needed a second look, but those bridges were deemed safe. Officials said if a bridge is determined to be unsafe it will be shut down for traffic immediately.

According to a report by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, one in four American bridges need major repairs or upgrades.

To see a list of all the bridges in the state and the entire national report on the safety of bridges, click State of Tennessee's Bridges. Click Bridging the Gap to read the report about birdges across the country.