Jacksonville area has share of questionable bridges

[thelakelander]

Area has share of questionable bridges

23 of those spans have not been checked since '04.

By TIMOTHY J. GIBBONS, The Times-Union

There are 43 "structurally deficient" bridges in the greater Jacksonville area, including 18 owned by Duval County, according to federal data analyzed by the Times-Union in the wake of Wednesday's Minnesota bridge collapse.

Twenty-three of those bridges - spread across Duval, Nassau, St. Johns, Clay and Baker counties - have not been inspected since 2004, according to data through the end of 2006, despite federal requirements that bridges deemed structurally deficient be checked every year.

The Federal Highway Administration has not yet made 2007 data available.

Structurally deficient bridges are those that have received a grade lower than 50 percent during their last inspection. Bridges are rated on four factors, such as structural adequacy and serviceability.

Getting that label doesn't mean the structure is unsafe, said Keith Campbell, structure maintenance engineer for the state Department of Transportation's District 2 office, which covers 18 North Florida counties.

"Those bridges are by definition in poor condition, but they are safe for travel," he said. "Bridges that are open to traffic now are safe."

The North Florida transportation district has responsibility for 1,173 bridges, the highest number in the state. It also has almost a quarter of the state's bridges that were built prior to 1960.

for full article and to view bridge rating list, click on the link: http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/080307/met_188714526.shtml

[Ocklawaha]

I agree, and no body wants another Minneapolis incident here or anywhere. Trouble is, will the State DOT use this as a way to kill our remaining historic bridges? The fantastic Veterans Bridge in Palatka, came down with a  downright ugly, plain Jane replacement. The statues were stood at the end as the State couldn't find the budget to create the little kiosks to those Incredible Boys of WWI that once graced that span.

Bridge of the Lions nearly met the same fate, only community effort saved her from certain death. Here at home, we better gear up for the fight of a lifetime, if they go after "GRAND AVENUE BRIDGE" in Ortega. Storm the bridge, block the bulldozers, and DEMAND they rebuild it in place al la St. Augustine, if needs be. It is our own "Bridge of the Lions" right here at home. NO WAY FDOT! BTW, it also still has our own Trolley tracks in it, but I would fight for it with or without the rails!

Ocklawaha