North Texas' 'Mile Long Bridge' rapidly deteriorating, declared a disaster

[edwaleni]

https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/mile-long-bridge-closed-18573228.php

North Texas' 'Mile Long Bridge' rapidly deteriorating, declared a disaster

North Texas leaders in Stephens County declared a disaster on Friday and shut down the "Mile Long Bridge" over Hubbard Creek Lake after an emergency inspection revealed significant structural concerns, reported Shelly Womack with KTAB-TV. Closed until further notice, the bridge provided the most straightforward route between the cities of Breckenridge and Albany, which sit east and west of the lake, respectively.

An emergency county meeting held Friday night revealed that a local fisherman saw a piece of the bridge falling Thursday night and reported it, Womack wrote. In a comment posted on the Stephens County official Facebook page, officials said the sheriff's office then reached out to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to inspect the damage. "The issue was major and deteriorating rapidly; the roadway was unsafe. In the interest of public safety, the bridge was shut down," the county representative wrote online.

Per Womack, the closure isolates roughly 15 percent of Stephens County's residents from rapid emergency services, potentially extending response times to 45 minutes or longer. In preparation, emergency personnel were deployed west of the bridge to assist if needed.

Drivers who typically take the bridge from Breckenridge to Albany are encouraged to take a detour by traveling along US 183 to FMs 576 and 601 instead, per a Facebook post. According to Google Maps, this would lengthen the usual trip by about 10 miles. Commuters could also take a gravel path, turning from FM 576 to FMs 292, 290 and 294. More information is expected to come from TxDOT, Stephens County and Breckenridge officials.

[The Ghostbuster]

Why is the US 180 bridge over Hubbard Creek Lake called the "Mile-Long Bridge"? Is the bridge one-mile long? For those having trouble finding the bridge, it's right here: https://www.google.com/maps/@32.7634823,-99.0063618,3061m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu.

[Bobby5280]

The bridge itself is about 3700' long. It's closer to a mile if you count the earth berms extending into the lake on either side of the bridge.

[intelati49]

Two questions.

1. It feels very 60-70 design. So probably could have used a renovation?
2. Is the lake fresh water? I guess the sustained high moisture is for all "lake bridges", but if it's salt water..

[Bobby5280]

It feels very 60-70 design. So probably could have used a renovation?

The bridge definitely has a very out-of-date design. No shoulders for one thing. And then there is zero accommodation for any pedestrians or bicyclists. But it's a rural location where pretty much everyone is getting around via motor vehicles. Shoulders at the very least are a necessity.

Is the lake fresh water? I guess the sustained high moisture is for all "lake bridges", but if it's salt water..

Hubbard Creek Lake is a man-made lake (as a result of building a dam) to create a drinking water source.

[edwaleni]

I guess the sustained high moisture is for all "lake bridges", but if it's salt water..

Not if TxDOT is using road salt in the winter.

[Road Hog]

I guess the sustained high moisture is for all "lake bridges", but if it's salt water..

Not if TxDOT is using road salt in the winter.

That is a given. If it even threatens a flake of snow in the 5-day forecast, TxDOT will be out pre-brining roads, especially long bridges like that one.

[jeffandnicole]

I guess the sustained high moisture is for all "lake bridges", but if it's salt water..

Not if TxDOT is using road salt in the winter.

That is a given. If it even threatens a flake of snow in the 5-day forecast, TxDOT will be out pre-brining roads, especially long bridges like that one.

But occasional road brine shouldn't be a major factor into what's happening with this bridge, unless the area in question managed to receive an unusual amount of brine or salt that sat there for years undetected to undermine the bridge.  Bridges all over the northern states would have constant failures with the amount of brine and salt used. 

Bridge inspections should be occurring every 2 years at minimum to detect any issues, so it may be likely someone missed the problem in the making here.

[Road Hog]

Photos look to me like concrete failure. Probably not anything to do with road salt, but water can get into cracks and the freeze-thaw cycle over time (50+ years) will do its work.

[Bobby5280]

Yeah, the freeze-thaw cycle will further worsen cracks in concrete. Water intrusion will speed up the rust cycle on the rebar and other metal inside the structure.

[Road Hog]

The entire bridge will need a thorough inspection from end to end and it may be deemed irrepairable. If that's the case, TxDOT should waste no time demolishing it and putting up a new, modern bridge. That's going to take a couple of years and I'm sure the traffic count won't justify an expedited schedule. They'll just have to delay letting one of their fancy metro projects to pay for it.

[LilianaUwU]

Reminds me of how a lot of early Autoroute infrastructure in Québec deteriorated after 50 years of heavy snow, road salt and general traffic.

[bwana39]

there is a possible patch. there was an entire column on US-75 outside if Denison that was spalled far worse than this, it just depends on the current attitude.

Basically drill and bolt a beam on both sides of the beam.  Might post it a lower weight as well.

They might drop supports under the beams too (like the million dollar bridge in Alaska or the UPRR Trinity River bridge next to us-59.)

[Bobby5280]

Don't roads signed as US Highways have minimum weight standards for bridges? I could certainly see weight restrictions and even bans on heavy trucks being issued for bridges on section line roads and neighborhood streets. But it's generally assumed a US Highway would be able to carry semi trucks hauling standard weight loads.

[motorola870]

Don't roads signed as US Highways have minimum weight standards for bridges? I could certainly see weight restrictions and even bans on heavy trucks being issued for bridges on section line roads and neighborhood streets. But it's generally assumed a US Highway would be able to carry semi trucks hauling standard weight loads.

US77 in Waxahachie had weight restrictions on the old viaduct before it got replaced deteriation and age got to the point they couldn't repair and refurbish it. Brine was a major cause of the substructure beginning to deteriate.

[Road Hog]

Don't roads signed as US Highways have minimum weight standards for bridges? I could certainly see weight restrictions and even bans on heavy trucks being issued for bridges on section line roads and neighborhood streets. But it's generally assumed a US Highway would be able to carry semi trucks hauling standard weight loads.

US77 in Waxahachie had weight restrictions on the old viaduct before it got replaced deteriation and age got to the point they couldn't repair and refurbish it. Brine was a major cause of the substructure beginning to deteriate.

I'm familiar with that "viadock" (as the locals call it). They ended up building two of them, one northbound and one southbound because of traffic. The original one was close to 100 years old.

To TxDOT's credit, they kept the original rail design for both bridges and even incorporated it in the I-35E rebuild.

[wxfree]

According to reports, the bridge has been reopened.  It's been patched up.

https://ktxs.com/news/local/hubbard-creek-bridge-reopens

[abqtraveler]

According to reports, the bridge has been reopened.  It's been patched up.

https://ktxs.com/news/local/hubbard-creek-bridge-reopens

Probably fixed just enough to keep the bridge in service until a replacement bridge can be designed and built.

[BJ59]

If they ever fully replace the bridge do y'all think it will be a 4-lane divided bridge? I have seen this case with many old bridges being replaced with a 4-lane divided over bodies of water, even if they are out in rural areas where the road is otherwise 2 lanes.

Examples:
Tx-334 over the Cedar Creek Reservoir
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.3283417,-96.1811827,3a,75y,229.62h,77.07t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-SkNmNGdOi8oprrnVzy6AQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

Tx-276 over Lake Tawakoni
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.907821,-95.972664,3a,75y,102.49h,93.96t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sHhnr8jo5PkWNZOTckdaqZg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DHhnr8jo5PkWNZOTckdaqZg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D140.05888%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

[JREwing78]

If they ever fully replace the bridge do y'all think it will be a 4-lane divided bridge? I have seen this case with many old bridges being replaced with a 4-lane divided over bodies of water, even if they are out in rural areas where the road is otherwise 2 lanes.

Unlikely. Traffic counts on the bridge are about 3600 vehicles per day, and they drop off rapidly west of the bridge to about 2200 vehicles per day. A 2-lane highway generally isn't considered for 4-laning until at least 6,000 vehicles per day (and often not until 10,000 vehicles per day).

With I-20 drawing away most through traffic, it's unlikely US-180 would ever reach a point of needing 4 lanes.

[bwana39]

If they ever fully replace the bridge do y'all think it will be a 4-lane divided bridge? I have seen this case with many old bridges being replaced with a 4-lane divided over bodies of water, even if they are out in rural areas where the road is otherwise 2 lanes.

Examples:
Tx-334 over the Cedar Creek Reservoir
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.3283417,-96.1811827,3a,75y,229.62h,77.07t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-SkNmNGdOi8oprrnVzy6AQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

Tx-276 over Lake Tawakoni
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.907821,-95.972664,3a,75y,102.49h,93.96t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sHhnr8jo5PkWNZOTckdaqZg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DHhnr8jo5PkWNZOTckdaqZg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D140.05888%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

SH-8 over Wright Patman was rebuilt as 2-lane. SH-155 is going to be 2-laned.  So it just depends.

[Road Hog]

I'm sure it'll be built to modern specs with 10-foot shoulders, etc. Hopefully it'll have sightlines that will allow for passing.