The railroad bridge I worked at 15 years in Everett was directly below SR 529 (Old Highway 99) twin crossings above the Snohomish River. They had a "over-height" monitor prior to crossing the bridge and if you were over-height, a bunch of bells and whistles went off and you have a chance to stop. Those bridges have taken a lot of hits from over-high loads. Mostly logging trucks in the early years with "that one-log" sticking up a little to high. Then those sawdust/chip trucks with an extra "scoop". I can tell you that if a span of SR529 just fell into the river it will add 30-60-90 minutes to your daily travels. The Skagit River I-5 bridge handles 75-80K cars-trucks a day. Vital link for our Canadian friends to visit/shop/go to mariners games/watch soccer and whatever. I can tell you that a shit-load of semi-trucks pulling containers travel this route. You cant drive 50 miles of this stretch without being in the middle of bunch of semi-trucks. All these semi-trucks are going to be taking the scenic route around the "damaged bridge" along with the all the other traffic. Anybody that lives around a "newly created detour for I-5" is in for some sleepless nights.
Snippy said
8:12 PM, 05/24/13
Uke wrote:
Nobody (They say...) was killed!
Do you think that "they" would tell you if there was anybody dead?
Obama's MSM (Madrasa State Media) only tell yUke what they want you to know.
Snippy said
5:08 AM, 05/25/13
The Krink wrote:
the "other disaster" it created was a "perpetual traffic jam" for this location on I-5 for ...?
Snippy boldly predicts 25 days max to close the gap.
Traffic jam - perpetual.
-- Edited by Snippy on Saturday 25th of May 2013 05:09:43 AM
The Krink said
7:24 AM, 05/25/13
Pretty sure just those 3 unlucky/lucky souls were at the right time and place. Their stories all describe a "chance" to "check- out"...this is it I'm going to die but it wasnt that time as all 3 persons just went through total hell...including be in a submerged automobile filling up with icy cold Skagit River. What an expierence. So once we got everybody rescued we shift to the "Aftermath" of this "key" bridge on I-5. I already know every detour route around the Skagit River between Mt Vernon and Burlington. Those routes are the ones you take on a Sunday drive with the wife. The Mt Vernon Burlington area has grown a lot in the last 20 years and they got "bad traffic" going all the time especially on what is now the new "detour of Northbound I-5 traffic" with a 3-4 automobiles and 2 semi-trucks and 2 cars and 1 semi- truck. All this detour I-5 traffic is going through about 10-12 stoplights at intersections where the "5-minute" wait is the norm. Monitored how the "now set-up detours" went Friday and it was "miles long going either way" all day pretty much putting Mt Vernon and Burlington traffic into a semi-permanet gridlock for months. Those outlying routes you took on a Sunday drive are going to see truck-traffic now as the roar of traffic is going to increase dramatically for this area. Thinking the BNSF might be in for some "new business" as this steady flow of containers going by I-5 from Vancouver BC is certainly going to be looking for an alternative now. Heard they put on another Amtrack train to run RT Seattle to Bellingham daily. While the main story will be the bridge-collapse and the ones that went into the water, the "other disaster" it created was a "perpetual traffic jam" for this location on I-5 for ...?
Troll said
10:58 AM, 05/25/13
Thunderwagon5000 said
6:56 AM, 05/26/13
Pain in the neck for everyone, almost.
Although, gasoline sales are increased substantially in strategic locations.
The long struggling petrochemical industry will benefit, at least.
-- Edited by Thunderwagon5000 on Sunday 26th of May 2013 06:57:26 AM
The Krink said
8:06 AM, 05/26/13
Snippy is "too optimistic". This not a derailment where they just shove everything to one side and lay new track and trains are running in 48 hours. My guess is it will take 6 months to repair the span "missing". And since this bridge is under going every test possible, they could decide a new bridge needs to be built which would mean a year, year and a half. I'm very familiar with the MVB area and all the possible detours for the 70K I-5 travelers every day of the year to go. Its a case of "all-roads" reconnect with I-5 someplace. This MVB area is really going to experience "a change of life", one that was peaceful to being just the opposite. Cant see the traffic being less on I-5 getting through this "now bottleneck" especially the truck traffic which will always be there. Right now you can figure on 30mins to 2 hrs getting around this "missing link". Maybe when they determine how long the bridge will be out will determine how to create a "better detour route" through this area but nothing is going exceed 25-35mph without a shitload of stoplights. I watch the CBC Vancouver BC news last night and this bridge-collapse on I-5 has got their attention. This is a stretch of I-5 where the Canadians travel pretty heavy on their way to make our local economies function. Guess we need to see how much the Candians are detered by such a minor incovience getting past MVB on their way to all kinds of fun.
-- Edited by Snippy on Sunday 26th of May 2013 09:53:20 AM
Uke said
4:17 PM, 05/26/13
Shortly after the realization sunk in...state of Washington highway and traffic engineers started yakkin' up the "Bailey Bridge" thing. So the conversation goes on... Canada has used a few, Australia as well... Baileys have been used in several other places worldwide.
We'll see how long it takes 'em ta solve the "Big Gap" over the Skagit, and restore normal traffic flow along I-5.
By Associated Press, Published: May 25 | Updated: Sunday, May 26, 3:23 PM
SEATTLE Temporary spans will be installed across the Skagit River in northern Washington state where an interstate highway span collapsed into the water this past week, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Sunday.
Inslee said he hopes the temporary spans, each with two lanes for northbound and southbound traffic, will be finished in about three weeks time or about mid-June.
The spans will be pre-built and trucked to Mount Vernon, Wash., where the collapse happened.
The state plan also calls for a permanent span to be built at the same time with crews rolling in the permanent fix by autumn, officials said.
Were going to get this project done as fast as humanly possible, Inslee said. There are no more important issue right now to the economy of the state of Washington than getting this bridge up and running.
Officials say there are remaining inspections to the spans left standing to make sure they are safe to use.
The federal government is expected to cover 100 percent of the costs of the temporary bridge and 90 percent the replacement, said state Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson.
The temporary span would be able to carry regular-sized cargos as well as cars. The speed limit would be lower than the 60 miles per hour allowed previously.
On Thursday, a semi-truck carrying an oversize load clipped a steel truss, starting the collapse of the span and sending cars and people into the cold river waters, authorities said. The three people in the cars survived with non-life threatening injuries.
But the collapse cut access to one the most important highways in Washington state for trade, commuters and travelers.
On Saturday, barges arrived at the river with equipment ready to remove the mangled steel, pavement and cars in the water.
National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Debbie Hersman on Sunday said the bridge had withstood other over height collisions with vehicles in the past, with the most recent reported collision happening last October. She said evidence of other collisions can be seen in the spans still standing over the water.
Hersman also said a second truck with a similar cargo was traveling behind the truck involved in the collision. She said investigators are inspecting that cargo and truck to take measurements. The truck involved in the collision has also been moved off the highway on-ramp where it has been parked since Thursday.
Hersman also said investigators have traveled to Alberta, Canada to inspect the trucking companys records.
The NTSB head also said that if the truck had been on the left lane of the southbound lanes, it likely would have cleared the bridge without a collision, but added that more precise measurements need to be taken. The bridges height clearance varies across it.
We know the company was required to establish that they could clear the entire route, Hersman said.
The trucks cargo from Canada was headed to Alaska. Its plan was to load its cargo onto a barge in Vancouver, Wash., about 275 miles south of the border crossing.
-- Edited by Uke on Sunday 26th of May 2013 04:31:35 PM
Uke said
11:06 PM, 05/26/13
The "Evergreen State" musta leaned on somebody down in the other Washington, or else this might not be a priority!
Three weeks = 21 days. Krink loses? How can this be?
Provided. It. Works.
The Krink said
8:23 AM, 05/27/13
I always go "worst case scenario" Cy and dont ask me why. The word "temporary" means that a "new bridge" is already being designed. The "temp-fix" will be welcomed by everybody traveling this stretch of I-5 and the local community.
This is going to "hurt"...I-5 severed at MVB for 6 months
to a year or who knows how long. I been across
this bridge a couple thousand times and I need to mention that
its a tight squeeze getting across meaning the 4-lanes
of traffic have minimal clearance with 4-lanes with just
posts for dividers between 2-lanes each direction.
You need to focus a little harder driving across that
bridge in 55mph traffic. A news reporter was mentioning
about the truss/beams at the ceiling were arched
a bit downward on the right-lane of the bridge
and that might be all it took for a nervous truck
driver to "tense-up" and make a wiggle and
it was just enough to cause this whole thing
to come down.
Officials: No one is believed dead in bridge collapse
http://www.goskagit.com/news/reports-bridge-collapses-between-mount-vernon-burlington/article_52637dd0-c417-11e2-bf59-001a4bcf887a.html
below SR 529 (Old Highway 99) twin crossings above the
Snohomish River. They had a "over-height" monitor prior
to crossing the bridge and if you were over-height, a bunch
of bells and whistles went off and you have a chance to stop.
Those bridges have taken a lot of hits from over-high loads.
Mostly logging trucks in the early years with "that one-log"
sticking up a little to high. Then those sawdust/chip trucks
with an extra "scoop". I can tell you that if a span of SR529
just fell into the river it will add 30-60-90 minutes to your
daily travels. The Skagit River I-5 bridge handles 75-80K
cars-trucks a day. Vital link for our Canadian friends to
visit/shop/go to mariners games/watch soccer and
whatever. I can tell you that a shit-load of semi-trucks
pulling containers travel this route. You cant drive 50
miles of this stretch without being in the middle of
bunch of semi-trucks. All these semi-trucks are going
to be taking the scenic route around the "damaged bridge"
along with the all the other traffic. Anybody that lives
around a "newly created detour for I-5" is in for some
sleepless nights.
Do you think that "they" would tell you if there was anybody dead?
Obama's MSM (Madrasa State Media) only tell yUke what they want you to know.
Snippy boldly predicts 25 days max to close the gap.
Traffic jam - perpetual.
-- Edited by Snippy on Saturday 25th of May 2013 05:09:43 AM
time and place. Their stories all describe a "chance" to "check-
out"...this is it I'm going to die but it wasnt that time as all
3 persons just went through total hell...including be in a
submerged automobile filling up with icy cold Skagit River.
What an expierence. So once we got everybody rescued
we shift to the "Aftermath" of this "key" bridge on I-5.
I already know every detour route around the Skagit River
between Mt Vernon and Burlington. Those routes are the
ones you take on a Sunday drive with the wife. The Mt Vernon
Burlington area has grown a lot in the last 20 years and
they got "bad traffic" going all the time especially on what
is now the new "detour of Northbound I-5 traffic" with a
3-4 automobiles and 2 semi-trucks and 2 cars and 1 semi-
truck. All this detour I-5 traffic is going through about 10-12
stoplights at intersections where the "5-minute" wait is the
norm. Monitored how the "now set-up detours" went
Friday and it was "miles long going either way" all day
pretty much putting Mt Vernon and Burlington traffic
into a semi-permanet gridlock for months. Those outlying
routes you took on a Sunday drive are going to see
truck-traffic now as the roar of traffic is going to increase
dramatically for this area. Thinking the BNSF might be in
for some "new business" as this steady flow of containers
going by I-5 from Vancouver BC is certainly going to be
looking for an alternative now. Heard they put on another
Amtrack train to run RT Seattle to Bellingham daily.
While the main story will be the bridge-collapse and
the ones that went into the water, the "other disaster"
it created was a "perpetual traffic jam" for this location
on I-5 for ...?
Pain in the neck for everyone, almost.
Although, gasoline sales are increased substantially in strategic locations.
The long struggling petrochemical industry will benefit, at least.
-- Edited by Thunderwagon5000 on Sunday 26th of May 2013 06:57:26 AM
just shove everything to one side and lay new track and
trains are running in 48 hours. My guess is it will take
6 months to repair the span "missing". And since this
bridge is under going every test possible, they could
decide a new bridge needs to be built which would mean
a year, year and a half. I'm very familiar with the
MVB area and all the possible detours for the 70K
I-5 travelers every day of the year to go. Its a case of
"all-roads" reconnect with I-5 someplace. This MVB
area is really going to experience "a change of life",
one that was peaceful to being just the opposite.
Cant see the traffic being less on I-5 getting through
this "now bottleneck" especially the truck traffic which
will always be there. Right now you can figure on 30mins
to 2 hrs getting around this "missing link". Maybe when
they determine how long the bridge will be out will
determine how to create a "better detour route" through
this area but nothing is going exceed 25-35mph without a
shitload of stoplights. I watch the CBC Vancouver BC news
last night and this bridge-collapse on I-5 has got their attention.
This is a stretch of I-5 where the Canadians travel pretty
heavy on their way to make our local economies function.
Guess we need to see how much the Candians are detered
by such a minor incovience getting past MVB on their way
to all kinds of fun.
Merced River at Yosemite
http://goo.gl/maps/ycCwO
-- Edited by Snippy on Sunday 26th of May 2013 09:53:20 AM
Shortly after the realization sunk in...state of Washington highway and traffic engineers started yakkin' up the "Bailey Bridge" thing. So the conversation goes on... Canada has used a few, Australia as well... Baileys have been used in several other places worldwide.
We'll see how long it takes 'em ta solve the "Big Gap" over the Skagit, and restore normal traffic flow along I-5.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bailey_bridge#Modern_Bailey_bridges
The very latest outa DC concerning the Mt. Vernon, WA bridge collapse:
2 temporary steel bridges to span across Skagit River after Wash. I-5 collapse
View Photo Gallery I-5 bridge collapse in Washington state dumps vehicles, passengers into river:No fatalities reported; collapse over Skagit River shuts down main route between Seattle and Canada.
By Associated Press, Published: May 25 | Updated: Sunday, May 26, 3:23 PM
SEATTLE Temporary spans will be installed across the Skagit River in northern Washington state where an interstate highway span collapsed into the water this past week, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Sunday.
Inslee said he hopes the temporary spans, each with two lanes for northbound and southbound traffic, will be finished in about three weeks time or about mid-June.
The spans will be pre-built and trucked to Mount Vernon, Wash., where the collapse happened.
The state plan also calls for a permanent span to be built at the same time with crews rolling in the permanent fix by autumn, officials said.
Were going to get this project done as fast as humanly possible, Inslee said. There are no more important issue right now to the economy of the state of Washington than getting this bridge up and running.
Officials say there are remaining inspections to the spans left standing to make sure they are safe to use.
The federal government is expected to cover 100 percent of the costs of the temporary bridge and 90 percent the replacement, said state Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson.
The temporary span would be able to carry regular-sized cargos as well as cars. The speed limit would be lower than the 60 miles per hour allowed previously.
On Thursday, a semi-truck carrying an oversize load clipped a steel truss, starting the collapse of the span and sending cars and people into the cold river waters, authorities said. The three people in the cars survived with non-life threatening injuries.
But the collapse cut access to one the most important highways in Washington state for trade, commuters and travelers.
On Saturday, barges arrived at the river with equipment ready to remove the mangled steel, pavement and cars in the water.
National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Debbie Hersman on Sunday said the bridge had withstood other over height collisions with vehicles in the past, with the most recent reported collision happening last October. She said evidence of other collisions can be seen in the spans still standing over the water.
Hersman also said a second truck with a similar cargo was traveling behind the truck involved in the collision. She said investigators are inspecting that cargo and truck to take measurements. The truck involved in the collision has also been moved off the highway on-ramp where it has been parked since Thursday.
Hersman also said investigators have traveled to Alberta, Canada to inspect the trucking companys records.
The NTSB head also said that if the truck had been on the left lane of the southbound lanes, it likely would have cleared the bridge without a collision, but added that more precise measurements need to be taken. The bridges height clearance varies across it.
We know the company was required to establish that they could clear the entire route, Hersman said.
The trucks cargo from Canada was headed to Alaska. Its plan was to load its cargo onto a barge in Vancouver, Wash., about 275 miles south of the border crossing.
-- Edited by Uke on Sunday 26th of May 2013 04:31:35 PM
The "Evergreen State" musta leaned on somebody down in the other Washington, or else this might not be a priority!
http://mynorthwest.com/174/2281170/Temporary-bridges-planned-for-fallen-I5-in-Wash
Provided. It. Works.
"temporary" means that a "new bridge" is already being designed.
The "temp-fix" will be welcomed by everybody traveling this
stretch of I-5 and the local community.
http://www.davegranlund.com/cartoons/2011/12/18/bourne-bridge-repairs/