Inspector who failed TWICE to identify catastrophic crack in bridge linking Arkansas and Tennessee is FIRED after it is closed and now faces criminal charges
A 15-year employee of the Arkansas Department of Transportation was fired for failing to find a large crack in a critical beam on the Hernando De Soto bridge
The employee, who was not named, was the team leader in inspections in 2019 and 2020 and failed to report the crack
Drone video from May 2019, however, showed the crack was visible at the time
It was first noticed on May 11 by an independent contractor who called 911 and told police to get people off the bridge immediately
With I-40 bridge closed, backup route gets inspection May 18, 2021 at 4:18 pm Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks with reporters about the closure of the Interstate 40 bridge connecting his state with Tennessee, Tuesday, May 18, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, left, also updated reporters about the bridge closure. (AP Photo/Adrian Sainz)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) An inspection of the Interstate 55 bridge connecting Tennessee and Arkansas began Tuesday, a week after the span became the states’ primary Mississippi River crossing when a cracked steel beam prompted the indefinite closure of the nearby Interstate 40 bridge.
Inspectors using drones were looking closely at the 71-year old I-55 bridge to ensure it is structurally sound and can withstand the higher volume of road traffic it has seen since the I-40 bridge was closed May 11, said Clay Bright, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
ArDOT officials answer to lawmakers on I-40 Bridge inspections Arkansas Department of Transportation officials met before an Arkansas Senate subcommittee Tuesday to address how the Interstate 40 Bridge damage was missed in earlier inspections. (Source: Arkansas Legislative Council) By Region 8 Newsdesk | May 18, 2021 at 8:20 PM CDT - Updated May 18 at 8:20 PM
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KAIT) - Arkansas Department of Transportation officials met before an Arkansas Senate subcommittee Tuesday to address how officials missed the Interstate 40 Bridge damage in earlier inspections.
ArDOT Director Lori Tudor said the person responsible for the previous inspection of the bridge was terminated Monday.
The state is inspecting bridges across the state the terminated inspector was in charge of inspecting.
With Cracked Bridge Closed, Backup Route Gets Inspection
In the midst of political debate on infrastructure investment, inspectors used drones to examine a 71-year-old bridge to ensure it can withstand a higher volume of traffic.
May 19th, 2021
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) An inspection of the Interstate 55 bridge connecting Tennessee and Arkansas began Tuesday, a week after the span became the states primary Mississippi River crossing when a cracked steel beam prompted the indefinite closure of the nearby Interstate 40 bridge.
Inspectors using drones were looking closely at the 71-year old I-55 bridge to ensure it is structurally sound and can withstand the higher volume of road traffic it has seen since the I-40 bridge was closed May 11, said Clay Bright, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Crack in Bridge Connecting Arkansas to Tennessee Comes With Consequences, Debate Todd Litman James Brasuell James Brasuell Richard Dion
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Crack in Bridge Connecting Arkansas to Tennessee Comes With Consequences, Debate
Goods movement on the Mississippi River, as well as truck traffic on a key interstate, has ground to a halt after a crack was discovered last week in a bridge on Interstate 40 connecting to Memphis.