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[jnewkirk77]

On Jan. 21, a truck carrying an oversized load hit and heavily damaged the southbound U.S. 41 bridge over Pigeon Creek on Evansville's north side. This bridge, which was originally built in 1940, had only recently reopened after a year-long rehab/repaint project.

INDOT has closed the bridge "indefinitely" and says it could be a year or more before it's able to be reopened.

Southbound traffic is currently using the S.R. 66/Diamond Avenue exit, then returning to the mainline via a temporary slip ramp that was quickly reinstalled after having been removed only a few weeks ago.

https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/2020/02/04/indot-u-s-41-truss-bridge-diamond-avenue-closed-indefinitely/4655676002/

[silverback1065]

I hate stories like this    I hope INDOT gets all the money from the company that caused this!

[Max Rockatansky]

Why does Indiana come up frequently with stories about trucks taking out truss bridges?  That story awhile back out of Paoli was bad enough. 

[jeffandnicole]

https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/2020/02/04/indot-u-s-41-truss-bridge-diamond-avenue-closed-indefinitely/4655676002/

A pole is attached to escort vehicles to determine whether the load can travel through tight spaces. That pole hit the frame of the bridge as the escort vehicle passed under.

The escort driver tried to alert the truck driver that its load, a large electric motor, wouldn't fit under the bridge. The two drivers didn't make contact, Ringle said.

Every safety measure, including providing the route directions, was in place to avoid such a collision, and every safety measure was ignored or didn't work.

If I were the truck drive, I'd be suing his escort driver for the cost of the penalties, loss of income, etc.  Ultimately the truck driver is in charge of his own vehicle, but there is some blame to pass around here.

[Life in Paradise]

https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/2020/02/04/indot-u-s-41-truss-bridge-diamond-avenue-closed-indefinitely/4655676002/

A pole is attached to escort vehicles to determine whether the load can travel through tight spaces. That pole hit the frame of the bridge as the escort vehicle passed under.

The escort driver tried to alert the truck driver that its load, a large electric motor, wouldn't fit under the bridge. The two drivers didn't make contact, Ringle said.

Every safety measure, including providing the route directions, was in place to avoid such a collision, and every safety measure was ignored or didn't work.

If I were the truck drive, I'd be suing his escort driver for the cost of the penalties, loss of income, etc.  Ultimately the truck driver is in charge of his own vehicle, but there is some blame to pass around here.

If I remember the story correctly, the escort driver turned off the road at the light just before the bridge, but the truck continued going straight.  If the truck had just taken the exit to the right of the bridge (has another bridge with no truss), the most he would have damaged was a traffic light.

[mrose]

At least it wasn't the Ohio River bridge. That was my first thought upon seeing the thread.

[The Ghostbuster]

I agree. If something happened to The Twin Bridges, Evansville would really be in trouble. The proposed Interstate 69 bridge over the Ohio River can't be built soon enough.

[edwaleni]

It must be something about Indiana.

LOGANSPORT, Ind. — The trucker who was driving when Monon SW1 No. 50 struck a bridge says a misrouting and a pilot car that failed to call him when its over height pole contacted the bridge led to the incident last week that sheared off the cab of the 1942 vintage unit that was the railroad’s first diesel.



http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2018/12/19-trucker-with-monon-50-on-board-says-pilot-car-took-a-wrong-turn-copy

[rte66man]

It must be something about Indiana.

LOGANSPORT, Ind. — The trucker who was driving when Monon SW1 No. 50 struck a bridge says a misrouting and a pilot car that failed to call him when its over height pole contacted the bridge led to the incident last week that sheared off the cab of the 1942 vintage unit that was the railroad’s first diesel.

http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2018/12/19-trucker-with-monon-50-on-board-says-pilot-car-took-a-wrong-turn-copy

"Misrouting"? What does that mean?  These days most every logistics companies have tracking software that warns them of low clearance bridges, load-limited bridges and the like. I can only assume the pilot car wasn't trackable by the logistics firm as the truck surely was.  Will be an interesting fight between teh pilot car company and the logistics firm as to who will pay for the damages.

[jnewkirk77]

https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/2020/02/04/indot-u-s-41-truss-bridge-diamond-avenue-closed-indefinitely/4655676002/

A pole is attached to escort vehicles to determine whether the load can travel through tight spaces. That pole hit the frame of the bridge as the escort vehicle passed under.

The escort driver tried to alert the truck driver that its load, a large electric motor, wouldn't fit under the bridge. The two drivers didn't make contact, Ringle said.

Every safety measure, including providing the route directions, was in place to avoid such a collision, and every safety measure was ignored or didn't work.

If I were the truck drive, I'd be suing his escort driver for the cost of the penalties, loss of income, etc.  Ultimately the truck driver is in charge of his own vehicle, but there is some blame to pass around here.

If I remember the story correctly, the escort driver turned off the road at the light just before the bridge, but the truck continued going straight.  If the truck had just taken the exit to the right of the bridge (has another bridge with no truss), the most he would have damaged was a traffic light.

No, the pilot car missed the left turn onto Lynch Road and continued south on 41. When his overheight pole hit, he called the truck and got no answer. As far as what would've happened if he'd been bright enough to exit, I don't think he would've even hit the lights at Diamond. When they were replaced a few years ago, the new lights were mounted somewhat higher than the old ones.

[abqtraveler]

https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/2020/02/04/indot-u-s-41-truss-bridge-diamond-avenue-closed-indefinitely/4655676002/

A pole is attached to escort vehicles to determine whether the load can travel through tight spaces. That pole hit the frame of the bridge as the escort vehicle passed under.

The escort driver tried to alert the truck driver that its load, a large electric motor, wouldn't fit under the bridge. The two drivers didn't make contact, Ringle said.

Every safety measure, including providing the route directions, was in place to avoid such a collision, and every safety measure was ignored or didn't work.

If I were the truck drive, I'd be suing his escort driver for the cost of the penalties, loss of income, etc.  Ultimately the truck driver is in charge of his own vehicle, but there is some blame to pass around here.

If I remember the story correctly, the escort driver turned off the road at the light just before the bridge, but the truck continued going straight.  If the truck had just taken the exit to the right of the bridge (has another bridge with no truss), the most he would have damaged was a traffic light.

No, the pilot car missed the left turn onto Lynch Road and continued south on 41. When his overheight pole hit, he called the truck and got no answer. As far as what would've happened if he'd been bright enough to exit, I don't think he would've even hit the lights at Diamond. When they were replaced a few years ago, the new lights were mounted somewhat higher than the old ones.

Has INDOT decided if they're going to repair the bridge, or demolish it and build a new bridge?

[Vista72455]

Just drove past the bridge this AM.  The damage is severe.  On the local news, the only comments have been about inspections.  It appears to this untrained eye, that almost every member of the truss was bent.  There will not be an easy repair.  I would anticipate a replacement. 

[jnewkirk77]

Just drove past the bridge this AM.  The damage is severe.  On the local news, the only comments have been about inspections.  It appears to this untrained eye, that almost every member of the truss was bent.  There will not be an easy repair.  I would anticipate a replacement.

Don't count that old bridge out just yet. If there's any feasible way to repair it, that's what they'll do. KYTC had a similar issue with a bridge on KY 81 between Owensboro and Calhoun late last summer. Now, if you drive across it and didn't know it'd been hit, you wouldn't know.

[rte66man]

Not having seen the damage to the bridge, I can't say this is an exact parallel but:

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=17992.0

has some information on what might have happened here.

[SteveG1988]

They just did a rehab on it too...

[US71]

When all else fails, blame your GPS

[EngineerTM]

As the District bridge inspection supervisor, I directed all post-collision inspection and reporting efforts following this incident.  All I can say is that the damage was severe, fairly extensive, and (this being a truss bridge) also adversely affected many of the fracture-critical connections.  Our team submitted both a preliminary and (few days later) in-depth damage inspection assessment report.  Currently, these findings are being assessed by our bridge asset management team and both rehabilitation and replacement options are being evaluated.  This was an unfortunate incident, as the bridge had been reopened about 7 months ago following a rehabilitation project.  The bridge was originally built in 1940.

On a personal (non-INDOT) note: I don't see INDOT getting that much money out of either the trucking company or the pilot company, at least no where near enough to cover the costs to make this asset "whole" again without spending taxpayer money.  Neither of these firms are large (I think that the trucking company is an owner/operator LLC) and likely don't carry enough insurance.  In addition, they will also be facing claims by the owner of the equipment that was being shipped, as this piece of equipment that they purchased was also badly damaged.  Bankruptcy Laws will likely limit the total damages that can be collected.

The truck driver received two citations: driving off the permitted route, and driving with an expired registration.

[JREwing78]

As the District bridge inspection supervisor, I directed all post-collision inspection and reporting efforts following this incident.  All I can say is that the damage was severe, fairly extensive, and (this being a truss bridge) also adversely affected many of the fracture-critical connections.

Based on the few photos I've seen of the damage (and not being a civil engineer), I'd be quite surprised if it made financial sense to repair the bridge again. Even if it did, INDOT would need to weigh whether the risk of another oversize load hit to the structure is worth doing repair v.s. replace. A shame - it was nice to see an 80-year old structure still in service and viable.

[hbelkins]

Isn't this the bridge that has a parallel non-truss bridge?

[EngineerTM]

Isn't this the bridge that has a parallel non-truss bridge?

Actually, there are two adjoining bridges.  The truss bridge carried two southbound lanes, and there is a separate adjacent bridge of more newer vintage (three span steel girder bridge with concrete deck) that carries two northbound lanes.  In addition, there is another three span steel girder bridge with concrete deck next to the west side of the truss bridge that carries an exit ramp lane from southbound US 41 on to SR 66/Diamond Avenue.  Fortunately, that ramp bridge is wide enough that, with some striping changes, can carry two lanes of traffic.

Currently, that bridge is being used as a detour for the closed bridge.  Temporary pavement has been placed immediately south of the closed bridge to serve as a run-around for southbound traffic.  It was the same MOT scheme used when the truss bridge was closed for its recent rehabilitation.

[CtrlAltDel]

Currently, that bridge is being used as a detour for the closed bridge.  Temporary pavement has been placed immediately south of the closed bridge to serve as a run-around for southbound traffic.  It was the same MOT scheme used when the truss bridge was closed for its recent rehabilitation.

As seen in Google Street View:

[jnewkirk77]

As the District bridge inspection supervisor, I directed all post-collision inspection and reporting efforts following this incident.  All I can say is that the damage was severe, fairly extensive, and (this being a truss bridge) also adversely affected many of the fracture-critical connections.  Our team submitted both a preliminary and (few days later) in-depth damage inspection assessment report.  Currently, these findings are being assessed by our bridge asset management team and both rehabilitation and replacement options are being evaluated.  This was an unfortunate incident, as the bridge had been reopened about 7 months ago following a rehabilitation project.  The bridge was originally built in 1940.

On a personal (non-INDOT) note: I don't see INDOT getting that much money out of either the trucking company or the pilot company, at least no where near enough to cover the costs to make this asset "whole" again without spending taxpayer money.  Neither of these firms are large (I think that the trucking company is an owner/operator LLC) and likely don't carry enough insurance.  In addition, they will also be facing claims by the owner of the equipment that was being shipped, as this piece of equipment that they purchased was also badly damaged.  Bankruptcy Laws will likely limit the total damages that can be collected.

The truck driver received two citations: driving off the permitted route, and driving with an expired registration.

Thanks for the update. Please keep us posted if you can.

[GreenLanternCorps]

It must be something about Indiana.

LOGANSPORT, Ind. — The trucker who was driving when Monon SW1 No. 50 struck a bridge says a misrouting and a pilot car that failed to call him when its over height pole contacted the bridge led to the incident last week that sheared off the cab of the 1942 vintage unit that was the railroad’s first diesel.



http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2018/12/19-trucker-with-monon-50-on-board-says-pilot-car-took-a-wrong-turn-copy

So not only did they damage the bridge, they severely damaged a historic piece of railroad equipment...   Idiots   The transportation company needs to be held responsible for the damage.  Properly trained personnel should not let this happen.

[EngineerTM]

Finally got an update: INDOT has decided to replace this bridge.  To satisfy Section 106 requirements (this bridge is considered historic, but not select), INDOT has officially posted information in case there is an organization interested in taking possession of this bridge.  Again, since it is historic, there are various regulations that must be met to rehabilitate and reuse this bridge in an appropriate and responsible manner.

https://www.in.gov/indot/2565.htm

I'm not surprised that the State's bridge asset management team went in this direction.  It was a somewhat controversial move to do the rehabilitation in the first place.  However, as I reported earlier, the damage to the bridge superstructure was very serious.

[Georgia]

what is it going to be replaced with? something similar to the northbound side i presume?
it was sad driving past it Sunday morning and seeing all the members bent like they were.