# I-40 Bridge (into Memphis) closed for emergency inspection \[update - bridge has been re-opened\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 12, 2021, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897 "2021-05-12T11:39:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/22 "2021-05-12T22:28:39Z")
But it’s not just a question of how to patch it up. They surely need a thorough understanding of _why_ it happened before they start remedial work. ---
**Author:** ![Crankyhillbilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Crankyhillbilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crankyhillbilly)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/23 "2021-05-12T22:32:46Z")
Major failure of some sort. Either design or steel. Could impact far more than this crack. This crack will be easy to fix. Just rivet/weld plating around it to give it sufficient strength. If all steel in bridge defective then big bucks for the taxpayers, same if bad design. I’m guessing it will be a billion or two dollars gone because some inspector got a $100 bribe when they were building the thing. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/24 "2021-05-12T22:35:24Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > I would call this a break not a crack. There’s a story describing it as a “fracture, which is less than a quarter of an inch”. I’m not an engineer, but I don’t think a quarter of an inch of air is any stronger than a foot of air. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/25 "2021-05-12T22:40:56Z")
The AP story also says “months”: > **[Official: Repairs to interstate bridge could take months](https://apnews.com/article/mississippi-river-memphis-97ae9172045c5b1d3251c838fd79fb7e)** > > MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Repairs to the Interstate 40 bridge linking Arkansas and Tennessee could take months after a crack was found in the span, forcing thousands of trucks and cars to detour and shutting down shipping on a section of the Mississippi... ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/26 "2021-05-12T23:00:54Z")
Shutting down a bridge for inspection and repair is nowhere near as disruptive as something like this would be. > **[I-35W Mississippi River bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I-35W_Mississippi_River_bridge)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > > > The I-35W Mississippi River bridge (officially known as Bridge 9340) was an eight-lane, steel truss arch bridge that carried Interstate 35W across the Mississippi River one-half mile (875 m) downstream from the Saint Anthony Falls in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The bridge opened in 1967 and was Minnesota's third busiest, carrying 140,000 vehicles daily. It experienced a catastrophic failure during the evening rush hour on August 1, ... I’ll never forget the little girl who called her mother afterwards, after her day care van crashed, crying, “Mommy, the bridge broke when we went over it.” A collapse in Memphis could potentially be far more disastrous, because the mighty Mississippi is much wider and deeper here than it is in the Twin Cities. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/27 "2021-05-13T00:25:29Z")
> [@Crankyhillbilly](#): > > Interstates are generally on two bridges. One for each directions so at least one should reopen with two way traffic. I have not seen that, although I vaguely recall two bridges in Massachusets. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/28 "2021-05-13T00:26:11Z")
Yes, it’s good we found it before the bridge collapse. I do wonder how long Mississippi river traffic will be halted as a precautionary measure. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/29 "2021-05-13T00:28:50Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > There’s a story describing it as a “fracture, which is less than a quarter of an inch”. I’m not an engineer, but I don’t think a quarter of an inch of air is any stronger than a foot of air. I am an electronic engineer, not mechanical, but I would venture to say that you are correct. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/30 "2021-05-13T00:34:27Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I do wonder how long Mississippi river traffic will be halted as a precautionary measure. Again, IANAME (I am not a mechanical engineer) but I would think that riviting a splice onto the beam would prevent an unloaded bridge from falling into the river, and while preventing vehicluar traffic, allow river traffic to resume. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/31 "2021-05-13T00:38:56Z")
Barges are darn big. I have seen several controlled by a single boat on the Arkansas, and on the Mississippi when I used to regularly travel between Memphis and Little Rock. Here are two that got away from the boat during the 2019 flood of the Arkansas. [Runaway barges on Arkansas River hit dam in Oklahoma, at least one sinks - ABC7 Chicago](https://abc7chicago.com/runaway-barges-strike-dam-at-least-one-sinks-video/5314358/) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/32 "2021-05-13T00:46:43Z")
Wow…I drove over that bridge heading west yesterday around 10AM, apparently a couple of hours before they discovered the crack. I had been telling myself I dodged a bullet by heading home from the southeast when I did–just before the gas pipeline debacle. Now it seems that my timing crossing the Mississippi was pretty fortunate as well. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/33 "2021-05-13T00:46:43Z")
And barges hit another I-40 bridge in Oklahoma in 2002. > **[I-40 bridge disaster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I-40_bridge_disaster)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > The I-40 bridge disaster was a bridge collapse that occurred southeast of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, United States at 7:45 a.m. on May 26, 2002. Freight barges being transported on the Arkansas River collided with a pier supporting the Interstate 40 road bridge crossing the river. The resulting failure of the supports caused a section of the bridge to collapse, killing 14 people and injuring another 11. The collision was determined to have result... ---
**Author:** ![Crankyhillbilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Crankyhillbilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crankyhillbilly)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/34 "2021-05-13T01:45:43Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I have not seen that, although I vaguely recall two bridges in Massachusets. There may be some that aren’t for monetary reasons etc but all interstate bridges are supposed to be two spans. The system was built for defense and twin bridges make it harder to bomb both even though it is a lot more expensive. Some of the other things for defense are, the width was set so tanks could ride abreast and sections were designated to be used as runways. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/35 "2021-05-13T02:13:27Z")
I thought the freeways being built to land aircraft was bogus. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/36 "2021-05-13T02:16:37Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I thought the freeways being built to land aircraft was bogus. Indeed – I’d often heard the “designed to be used as runways” story, but even the Department of Transportation says it’s a myth. > [@](#): > > **One in five miles of the Interstate System is straight so airplanes can land in emergencies.** > > This myth is widespread on the Internet and in reference sources, but has no basis in law, regulation, design manual—or fact. Airplanes occasionally land on Interstates when no alternative is available in an emergency, not because the Interstates are designed for that purpose. > **[Interstate Highway System - The Myths | FHWA](https://highways.dot.gov/highway-history/interstate-system/50th-anniversary/interstate-highway-system-myths)** > > President Eisenhower conceived the Interstate System.   President Eisenhower supported the Interstate System because he wanted a way of evacuating cities if the United States was attacked by an atomic bomb. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/37 "2021-05-13T02:49:00Z")
> [@Crankyhillbilly](#): > > The system was built for defense and twin bridges make it harder to bomb both even though it is a lot more expensive. Some of the other things for defense are, the width was set so tanks could ride abreast and sections were designated to be used as runways. I think all of this is bogus. Cite? There may be _other_ good reasons for twin bridges, but I find it hard to believe that we’d make huge and massively expensive modifications to our civilian infrastructure based on considerations that sound like they would be important only in the far-fetched scenario of a conventional war conducted on U.S. soil. (Although I suppose it’s more plausible that it might have been a design factor mid-20th century.) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/38 "2021-05-13T02:57:13Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > **but I don’t believe that we’d make huge and massively expensive modifications to our civilian infrastructure based on considerations that sound like they would be important only in the far-fetched scenario** Have you heard about the GOP’s new voting laws? How about Trump’s wall? Did you hear about the insurrection on 6 January and about all the people who gathered last state capitols because they were afraid that Antifa was gonna appear and magically take over? Were you not around for Y2K? Making huge and massively expensive modifications to our civilian infrastructure or just doing massively stupid things with massive numbers of people based on considerations that sound like they would be important only in a far-fetched scenario is like 40% of what the US does right now. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/39 "2021-05-13T02:57:39Z")
Fair point. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/40 "2021-05-13T03:17:30Z")
While I don’t know the situation concerning Interstates in other situations where you are upgrading from 2 lanes to 4 lanes and there is an existing 2 lane bridge sometimes another 2 lane bridge is added, instead of tearing the existing bridge down and building a bigger bridge. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/41 "2021-05-13T03:26:27Z")
> [@Crankyhillbilly](#): > > Interstates are generally on two bridges. Looks like just one to me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897.md?page=3)