Bridge collapse in Wash. is wake-up call

[NE2]

yawn

[kphoger]

wake-up call

yawn

Sounds like NE2 needs another wake-up call.  He can be reached at 1-800-872-7245.

[J N Winkler]

To be fair to NE2, the piece Cpzilliacus linked to has an axe to grind, as is indicated by the shot against unions.  PennDOT is a pretty obvious whipping boy, but to portray GDOT--whose rural four-laning program has attracted much criticism on here--as a model of fiscal prudence . . . really?

The problem with relying on the marginal fuel tax rate and nothing else is that it does not relate directly to the revenues actually spent on state highways or to their needs.  In order to do that it is necessary to take into account statutorily mandated revenue distributions and distill that down to incomings and outgoings per maintained centerline mile for various typical cross-sections, and no advocacy piece will ever embarrass its audience with that much detail.

[hm insulators]

Hmmmm, and I thought the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis was supposed to be a 'wake-up call'......

And I have the feeling that after the new bridge is built in Washington, everybody will hit the snooze button until the next similar tragedy.

[vdeane]

I think PA's biggest problem is that they divert highway money to other areas, such as city beautification.

[SteveG1988]

The problem there was, the driver was not paying attention, the fix would be for an overheight alarm ahead of it, perhaps at the exit right before the span, that way they were warned, also improve the signage of the height of a span, a yellow sign with warning lights (2 per side, flashing diagonally) would probably have helped.

Also, does anybody have any idea on what his alt route should have been? Where if someone was doing their homework, that truck would have been on a different span?

[kkt]

The problem there was, the driver was not paying attention, the fix would be for an overheight alarm ahead of it, perhaps at the exit right before the span, that way they were warned, also improve the signage of the height of a span, a yellow sign with warning lights (2 per side, flashing diagonally) would probably have helped.

Also, does anybody have any idea on what his alt route should have been? Where if someone was doing their homework, that truck would have been on a different span?

The oversize truck would have fit if it had been in the left lane.  (Is it normal procedure for oversize trucks to use a route where only one of the lanes will allow it to clear?)

The detours for overheight and overweight vehicles now are:

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/commercialVehicle/Restrictions/

I-5, MP: 230 to 225, Direction: S
Date Effective:   6/19/2013 12:00 AM
Detour availability:   N
Permanent restriction:   Y
Location:
Name: I-5 - Skagit River Bridge -Southbound
Description: I-5, MP 230-225
Comments:
I-5 Southbound milepost 230 to Milepost to Milepost 225 - No over legal axle weights allowed. Legal Loads only. 105,500 lbs. Total Weight Limit. Oversize loads prohibited. Overweight loads prohibited. Detour Southbound I-5: **LEGAL HEIGHT LOADS ONLY** Take exit 229; Turn left onto George Hopper Rd.; Turn right onto southbound Burlington Blvd. that becomes Riverside Ave.; Turn right onto westbound College Way (SR538); turn left onto southbound I-5. Height restriction at I-5 undercrossing (SR 538 MP .1) Restriction legal height only! Loads may travel during daytime hours, loads over 11ft wide or over 100 ft. long, must have 1 front and 1 rear pilot. Detour Southbound I-5: **OVER HEIGHT LOADS** Consider SR 9 as an alternate route. Local detours maybe considered by contacting 360-848-7230.

I-5, MP: 225 to 230, Direction: N
Date Effective:   6/19/2013 12:00 AM
Detour availability:   N
Permanent restriction:   Y
Location:
Name: I-5, Skagit River Bridge
Description: I-5, MP 225-230
Comments:
I-5 Northbound milepost 225 to Milepost 230 - No over legal axle weights allowed. Legal Loads only. 105,500 lbs. Total Weight Limit. Oversize loads prohibited. Overweight loads prohibited. Detour Northbound I-5: Take exit 227; turn right onto eastbound College Way (SR 538); turn left onto northbound Riverside Ave. that becomes Burlington Blvd.; turn left onto westbound George Hopper Rd.: turn right onto northbound I-5. Loads may travel during daylight hours. Loads over 11ft wide or 100 ft. long must have 1 front and 1 rear pilot.