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Newly released public records identify the Arkansas bridge inspector who was fired after state officials said he missed a critical crack on the Hernando De Soto bridge, and a document says he failed to get close enough to assess a key spot in the structure.
Monty Frazier was team leader on Arkansas Department of Transportation reviews of the bridge in September 2019 and September 2020, newly released records say.
On May 11, another inspection team led by outside consultants found a badly cracked girder on the bridge. Since that day, the bridge has been shut down to vehicle traffic and a massive repair effort is underway. The situation raises the question of why the crack was not found during earlier inspections conducted by ARDOT.
Hutchinson ending Arkansas virus emergency declaration, announces $100 bonus for some vaccinated state employees
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson confirmed Thursday that the COVID-19 emergency declaration would expire at the end of May.
Credit: AP
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson watches an ad at the state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark., on Thursday, May 20, 2021, featuring former NBA star Sidney Moncrief that s airing to encourage people to get the coronavirus vaccine. Hutchinson announced the state s emergency declaration issued because of the virus would expire at the end of May. (AP Photo/Andrew Demillo) Author: Casey Frizzell Updated: 12:50 PM CDT May 20, 2021
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson confirmed Thursday (May 20) that the COVID-19 emergency declaration instated last year at the start of the pandemic will expire on Sunday, May 30, 2021.
Governors Bill Lee & Asa Hutchinson visit I-40 bridge in Memphis as lengthy repair work set to begin
The Tennessee Department of Transportation commissioner said traffic may not return on the I-40 Hernando de Soto bridge for months. Author: Brad Broders Updated: 6:16 PM EDT May 18, 2021
MEMPHIS, Tennessee UPDATE - 4:20 p.m.: The governors of Tennessee and Arkansas were in downtown Memphis Tuesday afternoon, updating the public on the indefinitely closed I-40 Hernando de Soto bridge impacting both their states.
The bridge s closure has growing ramifications for travel and commerce delays, and is now a federal investigation.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Gov. Bill Lee were joined by TDOT leaders and others as construction work is scheduled to begin this week to repair a major crack in a steel support beam, discovered last Tuesday.