• Home Delivery
• Customer Services
• Contact Us

Print | Email |

3 Sullivan County bridges on TDOT's structurally deficient list

Tennessee transportation officials announced Monday that nearly 5 percent of state bridges are structurally deficient.

According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, 2.4 percent of interstate bridges across the Volunteer State are deficient, while 4.7 percent of all state bridges have some sort of damage but are still structurally sound.

Those figures qualify Tennessee bridges as sixth in the United States for the least number of structurally deficient bridges.

In a report of bridges in Sullivan, Hawkins, Hancock and Washington counties, TDOT information shows 57 bridges, or 6.6 percent, of state and locally maintained bridges are structurally deficient.

“The structurally deficient term means that the bridge may be damaged or deteriorated but not necessarily to a critical point where safety is an issue,” said Julie Oaks, TDOT public information officer.

TDOT inspects and is responsible for 8,113 bridges known as “on system” or those found along the interstate or state route system.

The remainder, 11,406 structures, are known as “off system” bridges that fall under the jurisdiction of counties, cities and towns in Tennessee.

The on-system bridges cited under the deficient heading in Sullivan County include:

• The Hammond Bridge at Fort Henry Drive over the Holston River.

• U.S. 19-E at Indian Creek.

• South Wilcox Drive over the South Fork of the Holston River.

• State Route 394 over Reedy Creek.

Although the Hammond Bridge is on the list, crews have been at work since late 2007 replacing the structure.

The budget for bridge repair and replacement stood at $130 million in the last fiscal year, TDOT said Monday, and the department is in the process of allocating $116 million for the coming fiscal calendar.

The average age of bridges locally and across Tennessee is 43 years, and one out of every four bridges needs to be modernized or repaired, according to Monday’s report.

A recent assessment average from federal highway agencies to fix or replace bridges nationwide currently stands at $140 billion.

“This generation of baby boomer bridges is in need of significant repair or replacement. New technology can help us build bridges that are stronger and longer-lasting. Yet we are not seeing the kind of national attention we need to address these issues,” said Pete Rahn, president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Discuss This Story

Be the first to comment: Sign In or Create Profile .

Enter Username Enter Password

I went to the state site and read some of the info on Sullivan County bridges. Why are three of the main bridges/culverts that run through Bluff City on US-19 in need of repair, some major? We are talking millions of dollars in repairs. These bridges were built in 1988 and 1989. This is a federal route and the traffic is not that heavy. So why are they already failing? Sounds like shoddy work in the beginning.

James Swafford | 7/30/2008 - 3:44 PM - (Suggest Removal )

Home | Login | Local News | Obits | Sports | Business | Opinions | Blogs | Classifieds| Business Profiles

Web Feeds/RSS | Contact Us | Customer Service | Privacy Statement | Common Questions | E-Edition | Subscriptions | Site Map

© 2009 Kingsport Publishing Corporation - Innovation by Times Digital Group