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I16 bridge in eastern Georgia shifted after being hit by raised dump trailer

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Retiredat46

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Mar 28, 2018
120
The SR86 bridge over I16 in Treutlen County, Georgia, was shifted six feet when hit by raised dump trailer on July 15, 2021.
I16_bridge_wowbem.jpg


Efforts are underway to demolish the entire bridge so the I16 can be partially reopened by July 17.

Wow! I can see demolishing and replacing the concrete deck, but it seems like a large part of the steel structure could be saved and moved back into place. It would be interesting to see some pictures of the underside of the bridge and learn the justification for a complete demolition.
 
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Now they have to repair the damage done to the road by th excavator. All of that pulling and tugging required for demolition really tears up everything under the excavator, too.
 
Of course there is also the issue of whether the insurance co will pay out anything on this. Since it was obviously purly driver error then they should refuse to pay and force liquidation of the company.
Insurance companies need to grow a set and not pay for stupidity, this wasn't an 'accident'.

Having grown up in a diesel shop, worked as a tech for decade prior to earning my degree, and owned several dumps I can assure that equipment malfunction is responsible for many of these occurrences. Dumps are probably second only to garbage trucks for lousy working environments, and keeping up with maintenance is a full-time job. Preventing this issue via technology is a pipe-dream IMHO. Mechanical locks or load pins could be required but even those wont solve the problem completely.

If this wasn't a govt project I would be surprised that the entire bridge was demolished.
 
Honestly that bridge seems more structurally sound post impact than so many bridges that are out there.

Of course signing off on rectification works on a bridge that has taken a impact is a whole lot different from a legal perspective than slowly letting a bridge fall into a state of disrepair. Surely there is a better way to spend the money and resources than demolishing the salvageable and ignoring the stuff that is heavily deteriorated.
 
The dump trailer was on another trailer for some reason. So lock out might not help.

They tore it down to avoid a prolonged closure of a very busy road. Most of the traffic from the port goes under that bridge.

I also wonder about how much momentum was required to move it that far. The truck must have been going quite fast.
 
ProEpro said:
The dump trailer was on another trailer for some reason.
Do you have a link to support that? Not doubting, just want to see the source.
That would explain some inconsistencies.
How was the base of the telescopic hoist ripped off of the truck or trailer with no visible connection to the box?
How could the box be elevated if it was being transported and the hydraulic's were no hooked up?
If the box was not elevated, but was being transported on another trailer and the load was too high for the bridge, then the box could have been swept off of the trailer,
With the front of the box jammed and held up by the bridge, the telescopic hoist would have dropped by gravity.

Bill
--------------------
Ohm's law
Not just a good idea;
It's the LAW!
 
EDSTAINLESS said:
Since it was obviously purly driver error then they should refuse to pay and force liquidation of the company.

I believe most "accidents" are due to driver error or stupidity. Do you really want to go down that road?
 
"GSP states a tractor-trailer (I think they mean just "tractor" here?) towing a hopper lift trailer was heading west when the hopper lift trailer went into the lift position and impacted the Georgia Hwy. 86 overpass that crosses I-16."
I don't see anything about it being on another trailer. Generally ,if it was, the hydraulics wouldn't operate, so it wouldn't raise.
It might have been the type where there is a rigid frame that remains horizontal when the dump bed dumps.

 
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