| RELEASE: CONTACT: |
IMMEDIATE Tina W Bundy . (540) 899-4560 tina.bundy@VDOT.Virginia.gov Jeff Caldwell (804) 786-2715 |
FRED-054 Sept. 13, 2007 |
VDOT RESTRICTS OVERWEIGHT VEHICLES ON ROUTE 3
ROBERT O. NORRIS JR. MEMORIAL BRIDGE In-depth inspection indicated potential structural concern
VDOT RESTRICTS OVERWEIGHT VEHICLES ON ROUTE 3
ROBERT O. NORRIS JR. MEMORIAL BRIDGE
In-depth inspection indicated potential structural concern
During an in-depth inspection of the bridge that included ultrasonic testing of key structural elements, inspectors found a potential flaw inside one of more than 160 pins that connect the bridge’s structural elements.
To ensure motorist safety, VDOT took immediate action to post the bridge until additional tests are conducted.
VDOT will retest the pin using independent experts later today and again Friday morning. These experts will use other ultrasonic equipment to look inside the pin.
The 8-inch diameter, approximately 26-inch-long pins are used to connect bridge beams like pins in a door hinge. Initial ultrasonic tests indicated a possible three-eighths-inch anomaly inside one pin.
The potential flaw cannot be seen by the naked eye.
“This is why we conduct safety inspections on all 20,823 of Virginia’s bridges and large culverts,” said VDOT’s State Structure and Bridge Engineer Ken Walus, P.E. “The bridge inspectors followed our procedures and immediately took action to ensure motorist safety while we are conducting additional tests on this bridge. We immediately act on the side of motorist safety if any concerns are raised about a structure.”
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles has voided all previously issued permits for overweight vehicles using the bridge and will not issue such permits for using the bridge until further notice.
VDOT posted signs this afternoon restricting overweight trucks from the bridge. The restriction does not apply to non-commercial passenger vehicles. The bridge is safe for normal traffic loads.
VDOT is already preparing an emergency contract for repair work. A contractor is on stand-by to perform repairs if further tests confirm that there is a flaw in the pin.
The Norris Bridge carries Route 3 across the Rappahannock River between White Stone and Grey’s Point in Middlesex County.
Overweight vehicles should use Route 17 and Route 360 at Tappahannock to bypass the bridge.
The Norris Bridge is a steel deck-truss bridge. In-depth inspections of Virginia’s 11 steel deck-truss bridges are being carried out as an extra safety measure following the collapse of the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis in early August.
Virginia’s steel deck-truss bridges are of a similar, but not exact, construction as the I-35W Bridge.
Norris Bridge Fast Facts:
- 50-year-old structure
- More than 11,300 vehicles cross the bridge per day
- Last annual visual inspection was conducted in May 2007. Visual inspections are performed on an annual basis.
- Last in-depth inspection was conducted in 2003. In-depth inspections normally are conducted every five years. The next in-depth inspection was scheduled for May 2008.
- The pin in question is original to the structure. Several bridge pins were replaced in 1996 as part of a rehabilitation project. These pins remain in good condition.
For more information about VDOT’s bridge-inspection program, visit VirginiaDOT.org/bridges.
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Page last modified: Thursday, September 13, 2007
