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| Thu, Nov. 20, 2008 |  |
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Bridges in fairly good shape, highway commissioners told Thursday, Jul 31, 2008 By Rob Moritz Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas' bridges are in pretty good shape when compared to those in other states, the Arkansas Highway Commission was told Wednesday. The commission also was told that the Department of Highway and Transportation is in the process of doubling the number of trained bridge inspectors in the state. The additional inspectors are expected to be on staff by February. Wednesday's briefing on the condition of the state's 12,531 bridges occurred just a few days before Friday's first anniversary of the collapse of the eight-lane Interstate 35 West bridge in Minneapolis that killed 13 people and injured 145. "Generally speaking, our bridges are faring a little better than the national average," said Highway Department spokesman Randy Ort after Wednesday's meeting. During the meeting, Scott Bennett, the department's assistant chief engineer, told commissioners that 8 percent of the state's 12,500 bridges are rated structurally deficient, meaning they have cracks or other flaws and must be monitored or repaired. That compares to 12 percent nationally, tying Arkansas for 11th lowest in the country, Ort said later. Fifteen percent of the bridges in the state are rated functionally obsolete, meaning they don't meet current design standards, Ort said, adding that is higher than the national average of 13 percent. Commission Chairman Jonathan Barnett of Siloam Springs said he was pleased with the briefing. "Compared with other states we are in pretty good shape; however, that's not good enough to let our guard down," Barnett said after the meeting. "We have a lot of bridges in the state and we obviously inspect bridges for cities and counties as well." During the briefing, commissioners were told that while bridges maintained by counties and cities in Arkansas are in better shape than other states, they are not as well maintained as state structures. Of 7,243 state-maintained bridges, 4 percent were rated structurally deficient and 13 percent functionally obsolete, Ort said. Of 4,380 county-maintained bridges, 14 percent were rated structurally deficient and 17 percent functionally obsolete. Of 908 city-maintained bridges, 6 percent were rated structurally deficient and 19 percent functionally obsolete. The panel also was told that federal investigators have determined that the Minnesota bridge collapse was caused by thin and fractured steel plates that connected the steel beams. Ort said 143 bridges in Arkansas have similar steel plates and are in the process of being inspected. Commissioners also were told that the state will soon have 40 trained bridge inspectors. Currently there are 20 trained inspectors. The other 20 assistant inspectors are expected to be on staff and working by early next year, according to Ort. The decision to double the number of inspectors was made early last year, before the Minneapolis bridge collapse, Ort said. Also Wednesday, the department let bids for 35 projects totaling $53.6 million, including $9.2 million to widen about 2.3 miles of Arkansas 102 in Bentonville. The stretch of highway, from South Walton Boulevard to Greenhouse Road, will be widened from two to five lanes to relieve traffic congestion. |
