A tragic bridge collapse in northern Kentucky

[seicer]

A tragic bridge collapse in northern Kentucky

It is with sadness that I report the collapse of the South Fork Grassy Creek Bridge in Pendleton County, Kentucky. I first photographed the span in the winter of 2012 and revisited the collapsed bridge Sunday. Thanks to reader Brian for the tip on the collapse.

Constructed in the early 1900s by an unknown company, the Pratt through truss carried Lightfoot Fork Road - later known as Kentucky Route 1657 over the South Fork Grassy Creek. It was closed to traffic in 1964 when a new bridge was built approximately 1/4-mile downstream.

At approximately 5:15 PM October 28, 2012, the bridge collapsed when Craig Ruber of Dry Ridge attempted to cross while hauling hay. Ruber, a local farmer who served on the Grant County Farm Board and who was the owner of Ruber's Landscaping and Lawn Care, died on the scene.

Below: Photographs from the winter of 2012.

Below: Photographs of the bridge post-collapse. These were taken with permission. An effort was made to find any steel manufacturer stamp or date, but most of what was etched has been covered with layers of rust.

[hbelkins]

I hadn't heard anything about this. Was the bridge privately owned and being used by the farmer on a regular basis?

[bugo]

Destroy a historic bridge, die.  Darwin claims another victim.

[seicer]

I hadn't heard anything about this. Was the bridge privately owned and being used by the farmer on a regular basis?

Yes - he was well known throughout the area. It was bypassed in 1964 with an upgraded state road. Not sure if it was related to the record flooding that county had in that year.

[Big John]

Yes - he was well known throughout the area. It was bypassed in 1964 with an upgraded state road. Not sure if it was related to the record flooding that county had in that year.

One of the before photos showed a significant crack in a fracture critical area so any stress on that could cause a total collapse.

[agentsteel53]

One of the before photos showed a significant crack in a fracture critical area so any stress on that could cause a total collapse.

could you point out the crack, please?  would be interesting to see, but I am not an expert at reading the photos with an engineer's eye.

[Big John]

One of the before photos showed a significant crack in a fracture critical area so any stress on that could cause a total collapse.

could you point out the crack, please?  would be interesting to see, but I am not an expert at reading the photos with an engineer's eye.

Photo 6 shows a severe crack in the steel.  Hard to tell that type of member that was by the photo angle.  But my impression looked to be pointing downward, where it was likely a tension member or connection.  And with the non-redundant aspect of almost all truss bridges, including that one, any failure to a member like that would cause the whole bridge to collapse.

[agentsteel53]

Photo 6 shows a severe crack in the steel.  Hard to tell that type of member that was by the photo angle.  But my impression looked to be pointing downward, where it was likely a tension member or connection.  And with the non-redundant aspect of almost all truss bridges, including that one, any failure to a member like that would cause the whole bridge to collapse.

thanks for the explanation!

[Scott5114]

The crack in the abutment in Photo 7 is pretty impressive, too.

[agentsteel53]

The crack in the abutment in Photo 7 is pretty impressive, too.

indeed, that is precisely where the abutment folded over - see the first post-collapse photo.  but I am assuming that is a secondary effect, directly caused by the steel failure tearing apart the truss.

[kkt]

They closed the bridge to traffic in 1964, but just left it in place rusting?  Seems like if they aren't going to maintain it they should sell it for scrap to get a little money for it and so people won't try to cross it.

[vdeane]

It's actually quite common.  I can think of three such bridges within 50 miles of where I go to college.

[hbelkins]

They closed the bridge to traffic in 1964, but just left it in place rusting?  Seems like if they aren't going to maintain it they should sell it for scrap to get a little money for it and so people won't try to cross it.

Sounds like it reverted back to the original landowner when it was bypassed.

[bugo]

There are several abandoned trusses in Oklahoma.  Some of them are still walkable, while some of them have rotten floors.  I'd rather they leave them in place than to tear them down.