Print Page - Red River record flooding at I-35

Title: Red River record flooding at I-35
Post by: wxfree on June 19, 2015, 02:03:13 PM

I'm not sure if this is a road story, since the road is still open, but it's related. The Red River is at a record level at I-35, affecting the bottom of the bridge. The current stage is 42.01 feet. According to the flood impact records, the water reaches the low chord of the bridge at 41.5 feet. (What's a chord?)

http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=oun&gage=gsvt2 (http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=oun&gage=gsvt2)

This photo was published on Facebook. According to the accompanying text, it was taken at about 7 a.m. The water is about half a foot higher now. The clearance sign is where the frontage road on the Texas side goes under the bridge for a U-turn.

https://localtvkfor.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/red-river-2.jpg (https://localtvkfor.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/red-river-2.jpg)

It would be intimidating to drive up to a bridge and see the water like that. The bridge is currently open but the frontage road is (of course) closed. The forecast shows the river cresting at about its current level and then falling fairly rapidly, about 6 feet in 24 hours.

Title: Re: Red River record flooding at I-35
Post by: Brandon on June 19, 2015, 02:15:45 PM

^^ I'm surprised the bridge is still open with water that high. :-o

Title: Re: Red River record flooding at I-35
Post by: Milepost61 on June 19, 2015, 11:35:00 PM

"Low chord" is the term for the lowest part of the bridge girders. (first thing the water hits as it gets higher)

Title: Re: Red River record flooding at I-35
Post by: Brian556 on June 19, 2015, 11:54:03 PM

Back in 2007, water came up level with the deck of the FM 720 Lake Lewisville Bridge. Water was shooting up thru the drain holes. It felt weird to drive on, but the bridge remained open.

This bridge has since been replaced with a higher bridge.

Title: Re: Red River record flooding at I-35
Post by: rte66man on June 20, 2015, 07:58:54 PM

Can't get the stupid direct link, but here is a link to the News9 video page:

http://www.news9.com/category/116601/video-page

Title: Re: Red River record flooding at I-35
Post by: rte66man on June 20, 2015, 08:54:04 PM

This link is better:

http://kfor.com/2015/06/19/odot-and-txdot-engineers-watching-red-river-bridge-for-possible-failure/

Title: Re: Red River record flooding at I-35
Post by: iBallasticwolf2 on June 20, 2015, 10:01:21 PM

Quote from: rte66man on June 20, 2015, 08:54:04 PM
This link is better:

http://kfor.com/2015/06/19/odot-and-txdot-engineers-watching-red-river-bridge-for-possible-failure/

Oh wow. The bridge will probably stay open because the water level is going down.

Title: Re: Red River record flooding at I-35
Post by: Scott5114 on June 21, 2015, 01:23:45 PM

Quote"It's scary when your driving over it!" McFadden says.

KFOR: complete professionals.

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Regional Boards => Central States => Topic started by: wxfree on June 19, 2015, 02:03:13 PM