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Del. I-495 emergency closure

Started by Alps, June 02, 2014, 08:09:43 PM

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cpzilliacus

Quote from: jeffandnicole on July 08, 2014, 12:22:04 PM
14' 0" exceeds the permitted maximum height for trucks of 13' 6", so no alternate route is necessary.  Why that special, unnecessary signage is even there at the 95/495 split in the first place is questionable.  Anything greater than 13' 6" would require a oversized permit, and detailed routing would need to be declared at that time to DelDOT, which would warn the trucking company of any issues.

14' 0", while rare, isn't all that unusual on an interstate highway.  I-295 in NJ has several overpasses at 14' or less, for example.

I thought some of the bridges over I-95 through Wilmington were less than 13' 6" (13' 0"?), but that may defective memory on my part.
Opinions expressed here on AAROADS are strictly personal and mine alone, and do not reflect policies or positions of MWCOG, NCRTPB or their member federal, state, county and municipal governments or any other agency.


jeffandnicole

I don't think it would be permitted to be an interstate highway if the overpasses were that low. 

cpzilliacus

Quote from: jeffandnicole on July 08, 2014, 12:39:20 PM
I don't think it would be permitted to be an interstate highway if the overpasses were that low. 

Third Street Tunnel in the District of Columbia (I-395) is posted 13' 0" (GSV sign from westbound U.S. 50 (New York Avenue, N.W.) to tunnel entrance).

Note that I believe that 13" 0' is false, for I have followed what appear to be full-height tractor-trailer combinations through the tunnel (carefully) to see if the trailer strikes anything, and they have not).
Opinions expressed here on AAROADS are strictly personal and mine alone, and do not reflect policies or positions of MWCOG, NCRTPB or their member federal, state, county and municipal governments or any other agency.

MASTERNC

Quote from: cpzilliacus on July 08, 2014, 12:31:54 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on July 08, 2014, 12:22:04 PM
14' 0" exceeds the permitted maximum height for trucks of 13' 6", so no alternate route is necessary.  Why that special, unnecessary signage is even there at the 95/495 split in the first place is questionable.  Anything greater than 13' 6" would require a oversized permit, and detailed routing would need to be declared at that time to DelDOT, which would warn the trucking company of any issues.

14' 0", while rare, isn't all that unusual on an interstate highway.  I-295 in NJ has several overpasses at 14' or less, for example.

I thought some of the bridges over I-95 through Wilmington were less than 13' 6" (13' 0"?), but that may defective memory on my part.

I remember that being an issue northbound.  There are warning signs that are activated by taller trucks that direct them to use I-495.  There is also a clearance warning in yellow on the signs for I-95 North.

I don't recall ever seeing such a warning going southbound.

Alps

Quote from: MASTERNC on July 07, 2014, 09:17:07 PMThe gore point signs for the 95/495 split have temporary overlays.  The 495 sign now says "Local Traffic Only" while the 95 sign says "thru traffic" (between the arrows).
How times have changed.

KEVIN_224

The yellow rectangles were gone went I took this on Tuesday, June 17th:

Come to think of it, this might have been the BGS before that one. Shoot!  :pan:

hbelkins

That bridge behind the sign looks like it's on aa painful and frustrating road to drive on.  :bigass:


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

jeffandnicole

Quote from: hbelkins on July 09, 2014, 12:34:03 PM
That bridge behind the sign looks like it's on aa painful and frustrating road to drive on.  :bigass:

That's the traditional upkeep method of PA overpasses.  I remember a story a long time ago how PA tends to lack in normal care and maintenance of their overpasses.  While most other states will repaint their overpasses from time to time, PA tends to let them rust out long after they should have been taken care of.  One can travel almost any highway and find that same rusted condition on many of the overpasses.

Today, there are numerous overpasses throughout the state that are weight-limited to trucks, and on occasion, closed to all traffic.  It makes one wonder if PA kept up their bridges doing very ordinary painting work every 20 - 30 years or so, if their bridges wouldn't be in such bad shape today.

froggie

I think HB was referring more to the name of the road on the overpass...

PHLBOS

Quote from: KEVIN_224 on July 09, 2014, 09:58:49 AM
The yellow rectangles were gone went I took this on Tuesday, June 17th:

Come to think of it, this might have been the BGS before that one. Shoot!  :pan:
If PennDOT actually took the time to remove those yellow rectangles at the diagrammatic BGS located at the actual split; one would've hoped that they would've also removed that "temporary" City/Port of patch.  But then again, PennDOT and logic don't usually mix.  :sombrero:
GPS does NOT equal GOD

jeffandnicole

Quote from: froggie on July 09, 2014, 01:50:28 PM
I think HB was referring more to the name of the road on the overpassÂ…


Oh. LOL  (I see it there...along with hearing the similiar town names in PA...so often I completely forgot about that unusual street name!)

KEVIN_224

Yes friends...that IS indeed what the street blade said on the bridge! I only noticed that after I got to our hotel in Elkton, MD and checked the pics on my laptop screen!  :-D

mtantillo

Quote from: PHLBOS on July 09, 2014, 02:00:25 PM
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on July 09, 2014, 09:58:49 AM
The yellow rectangles were gone went I took this on Tuesday, June 17th:

Come to think of it, this might have been the BGS before that one. Shoot!  :pan:
If PennDOT actually took the time to remove those yellow rectangles at the diagrammatic BGS located at the actual split; one would've hoped that they would've also removed that "temporary" City/Port of patch.  But then again, PennDOT and logic don't usually mix.  :sombrero:

Never really understood the differentiation between "City of Wilmington" and "Wilmington". They really should just say "Port of Wilmington/Baltimore" and "Downtown Wilmington" as the two destinations.

MASTERNC

DelDOT noted the repairs are ahead of schedule now and the SB lanes may open "several weeks" before Labor Day.

http://www.deldot.gov/home/newsroom/release.shtml?id=5209

ixnay

I'm not surprised that both directions won't be reopened at the same time.  I wonder, though, what determined which direction is getting priority?  Traffic volume?  Politics?  A coin toss?

ixnay
The Washington/Baltimore/Arlington CSA has two Key Bridges, a Minnesota Avenue, and a Mannasota Avenue.

Alps

Quote from: ixnay on July 12, 2014, 09:07:54 AM
I'm not surprised that both directions won't be reopened at the same time.  I wonder, though, what determined which direction is getting priority?  Traffic volume?  Politics?  A coin toss?

ixnay
I thought southbound was the affected direction. If that's the case, then northbound can open whenever southbound does, presuming they're testing to make sure that nothing happened NB.

ixnay

Quote from: Alps on July 12, 2014, 11:04:30 AM
Quote from: ixnay on July 12, 2014, 09:07:54 AM
I'm not surprised that both directions won't be reopened at the same time.  I wonder, though, what determined which direction is getting priority?  Traffic volume?  Politics?  A coin toss?

ixnay
I thought southbound was the affected direction. If that's the case, then northbound can open whenever southbound does, presuming they're testing to make sure that nothing happened NB.

In the photos it looked like SB was indeed affected.  Maybe they do need to do tests on NB.  Best to make this bridge safe or Mid-Atlanticans* will forget the I-35W tragedy.

*A crumulent word I know, and I consider eastern PA, south NJ, and metro NYC [sans SE CT]) to be part of the Mid-Atlantic, based on what I grew up reading (sorry, AARoads).
The Washington/Baltimore/Arlington CSA has two Key Bridges, a Minnesota Avenue, and a Mannasota Avenue.

jeffandnicole

Both directions were affected.  I *thought* NB was where the dirt was laid and was the most affected side, but regardless the piers from both roadways were found to be leaning.

mrsman

Quote from: ixnay on July 12, 2014, 12:28:33 PM


*A crumulent word I know, and I consider eastern PA, south NJ, and metro NYC [sans SE CT]) to be part of the Mid-Atlantic, based on what I grew up reading (sorry, AARoads).

I agree.  I know that on the Suggestions forum, I and others have commented on whether the regional forums should be divided in a different way.  I believe that ideally they should have been divided on state lines and not have one state in two separate regions.

As far as the different groupings of states that I learned in grade school:

New England, Mid-Atlantic, Southeastern, Southwestern, Midwestern, Plains, Rocky Mountain, and Pacific Coast states.  And yes, Mid-Atlantic states were: NY, NJ, PA, MD, and DE.  (VA and WV were part of the Southeastern states.

PHLBOS

Quote from: mtantillo on July 10, 2014, 09:01:20 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on July 09, 2014, 02:00:25 PM
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on July 09, 2014, 09:58:49 AM
The yellow rectangles were gone went I took this on Tuesday, June 17th:

Come to think of it, this might have been the BGS before that one. Shoot!  :pan:
If PennDOT actually took the time to remove those yellow rectangles at the diagrammatic BGS located at the actual split; one would've hoped that they would've also removed that "temporary" City/Port of patch.  But then again, PennDOT and logic don't usually mix.  :sombrero:

Never really understood the differentiation between "City of Wilmington" and "Wilmington". They really should just say "Port of Wilmington/Baltimore" and "Downtown Wilmington" as the two destinations.
Again, to be clear; the City/Port of patch was placed over the original Port of patch during a reconstruction of I-95 that took place in the late 90s/early 2000s.  That patch was supposed to be removed when the project was completed.  The original distinction was just Wilmington for I-95 South and Port of Wilmington for I-495 South.
GPS does NOT equal GOD

jeffandnicole

President Obama to visit the Port of Wilmington today to announce a transportation infrastructure plan, using the 495 Bridge Closure as a backdrop.

Some stories in the Wilmington DE News Journal:

http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/traffic/2014/07/16/visit-obama-announce-infrastructure-plan/12768219/  One of the interesting comments within the article is that "Compared to national averages, roads and bridges maintained by DelDOT are in relatively decent shape. Last year, the agency reported 99 percent of its pavement and 94 percent of its bridges are in good or fair condition."  But when a bridge fails...it fails badly! :-)  (And actually, that's not even the case with 495.  It was outside conditions - the dirt dumping - that caused it to fail)

http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2014/07/15/obama-visit-expected-snarl-traffic/12705091/ .  Sounds like he will be flying in to the New Castle Airport.  If via plane, it's possible those on 13/40 at 273 can witness Airforce 1 Flying just a few feet above their heads!

froggie

QuoteIf via plane, it's possible those on 13/40 at 273 can witness Airforce 1 Flying just a few feet above their heads!

If it's that low, they will probably temporarily stop traffic on 13/40 when the plane is flying overhead.  They do this on the Andrews AFB perimeter road when Air Force 1 flies in or out.

SteveG1988

Roads Clinched

I55,I82,I84(E&W)I88(W),I87(N),I81,I64,I74(W),I72,I57,I24,I65,I59,I12,I71,I77,I76(E&W),I70,I79,I85,I86(W),I27,I16,I97,I96,I43,I41,

mtantillo


Alex4897

👉😎👉



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