The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and Kiewit Corporation have prepared a timeline for repairs, according to Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) agency officials.
Phase I will add two 30 foot steel plates (18,000 lbs each) on either side of the fracture to strengthen the bridge for contractors and equipment to safely work on Phase II repairs. Kiewit has already mobilized and committed to working 24 hours a day until work is completed. Work platforms for the operations will go up this week.
Phase II will cut out and replace the damaged member and inspect the bridge for any additional concerns that need to be addressed before traffic returns to the bridge. Traffic cannot safely return to the bridge until both of these repair phases are completed. Weather permitting, TDOT states that while repairs could take several months but better estimates will be available as repairs progress.
Construction to widen Interstate 30 to six lanes in Saline County requires temporary, overnight stoppages of traffic on the frontage roads near the South Street bridge in Benton, according to Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) officials.
Weather permitting, crews will lift and place steel girders at the South Street overpass. This will require periodic stoppages of traffic on the frontage roads during overnight hours
Thursday,
May 20 and Friday, May 21, between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Traffic will be controlled with flagging operations.
The public is advised to be cautious when traveling in the work zone
and watch for slower traffic speeds. Areas adjacent to the Interstate may experience noise impacts during nighttime hours.
Fired employee was inspector for 9 critical bridges over past year in Arkansas
ARDOT officials say teams have already started re-inspected those nine other bridges and are hoping to have them done by the end of June. Author: THV11 Digital Updated: 1:06 PM CDT May 20, 2021
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. According to the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT), the employee who failed to report the crack in the I-40 bridge in 2019 was the lead inspector for nine critical bridges over the last year.
That person was fired Monday morning after 2019 drone footage revealed the crack in the I-40 bridge.
“From our investigation we have determined that the same employee who conducted the inspection in both 2019 and 2020 failed to carry out his responsibilities correctly,” Director Lorie Tudor said.