I-40 Bridge between Arkansas and Tennessee CLOSED!!!!!
 

failed Inspection so be Aware

Re: I-40 Bridge between Arkansas and Tennessee CLOSED!!!!!
 

yoopr plz post a link. this is all i could find on tdot
http://ww2.tdot.state.tn.us/tsis_pub....asp?county=79

Interstate 40 Incident
Date Last Revised: 8/27/2007 11:14:19 AM
Description: Interstate 40 eastbound in Shelby County - Special event with high traffic volumes at ARKANSAS-TENNESSEE STATE LINE (Mile Marker: 0.0) reported at 11:00 AM 8/27/2007 and estimated to be cleared by 8:00 PM 8/27/2007 (Central Time Zone). Eastbound traffic is affected with all lanes blocked. Westbound traffic is affected with all lanes blocked. Both directions of traffic are being diverted to alternate routes.
Incident Start: 8/27/2007 11:00:00 AM
Estimated Clearance: 8/27/2007 8:00:00 PM

I'll search for a Link but I saw the report on Fox News

WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — Officials shut down a major Mississippi River bridge Monday after a pier under a small approach span settled nearly 4 inches during the night in a construction zone.

The approach span for the Interstate 40 bridge was still supported by other piers, so the most motorists might have noticed would have been a slight dip, said Randy Ort, a spokesman for the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department.

He said the entire 1.5-mile-long bridge into downtown Memphis will remain closed until sometime Tuesday. Traffic over the river was diverted to the nearby I-55 bridge.

River bridges have been under scrutiny across the country since the Aug. 1 collapse of the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis killed 13 people. That bridge was undergoing repairs when it fell during the evening rush hour, dropping dozens of cars more than 60 feet into the Mississippi.

Near Memphis, an inspector noticed the problem on the I-40 approach just after rush hour Monday morning.

Ort said the problem was likely caused by additional, longer pilings being driven to improve the bridge's stability. While crews worked beneath one half of the bridge, the other half was carrying 35,600 vehicles daily.

"The settling was in the columns still under traffic, due to the construction adjacent to it," Ort said.

Workers have been improving bridges along I-40 to make them safer in case of earthquakes. The New Madrid fault runs through the area.

I bet every bridge in the country is being looked at, now. Wonder how many others will be shut down..

Yeah, Memphis was soooo fun yesterday. :evil: :roll:

I've never been east of Little Rock on I-40, but I can imagine.

I crossed the I-40 bridge tuesday morning at 9AM(westbound)....breezed across at a stately 50 mph.