# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/42 "2021-05-13T04:23:17Z")
I’m not an engineer but it seems very unlikely the empty bridge poses any threat to river traffic. The vibration and weight has been eliminated. I think river traffic will resume in the next few days. Long haul trucks can take alternate routes that avoids Memphis. It’ll be a longer drive but that’s better than the traffic jams. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/43 "2021-05-13T04:52:45Z")
> [@Crankyhillbilly](#): > > There may be some that aren’t for monetary reasons etc but all interstate bridges are supposed to be two spans. Cite? I don’t see anything about number of spans in AASHTO’s [standards for the interstate system](https://www.dot.state.al.us/publications/Design/pdf/DesignStandardsInterstateSystem.pdf). ---
**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, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/44 "2021-05-13T05:29:45Z")
Here’s an interesting technical report on how $275 million dollars was spent on this bridge between the years 2000 and 2013 to make it earthquake resistant: > **[Pezeshk2012NewMadridEngineering.pdf](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/static/lfs/nshm/workshops/CEUS2012/Pezeshk2012NewMadridEngineering.pdf)** > > 18.69 MB ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/45 "2021-05-13T12:53:16Z")
[https://i.redd.it/am5o2k0onry61.jpg](https://i.redd.it/am5o2k0onry61.jpg) ---
**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, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/46 "2021-05-13T14:05:43Z")
Guess what. It was built after Eisenhower saw german highways in WW2. He wanted to build them here. They were designed for defense. The idea was to be able to move entire divisions cross country in days instead of weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/47 "2021-05-13T14:24:17Z")
That’s not a cite. In fact most of your claims are identified as myths on the USDOT website [here](https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/interstate/interstatemyths.cfm#question1)… > **President Eisenhower conceived the Interstate System.** The Interstate System was first described in a Bureau of Public Roads report to Congress, _Toll Roads and Free Roads_ , in 1939. It was authorized for designation by the _Federal-Aid Highway_ _Act of 1944_ , with the initial designations in 1947 and completed in 1955 under the 40,000-mile limitation imposed by the 1944 _Act_ . President Eisenhower didn’t conceive the Interstate System, but his support led to enactment of the _Federal-Aid Highway_ _Act of 1956_ , which established the program for funding and building it. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/48 "2021-05-13T14:28:32Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > Not going to be an easy fix. So there’s something duct tape _can’t_ do? ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/49 "2021-05-13T15:06:19Z")
Unfortunately, yes. In this case, I think they’re going to need A LOT of JB Weld. ###### And then a layer of duct tape ---
**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, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/50 "2021-05-13T15:07:43Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > That’s not a cite. In fact most of your claims are identified as myths on the USDOT website [here](https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/interstate/interstatemyths.cfm#question1)… > > > **President Eisenhower conceived the Interstate System.** The Interstate System was first described in a Bureau of Public Roads report to Congress, _Toll Roads and Free Roads_ , in 1939. It was authorized for designation by the _Federal-Aid Highway_ _Act of 1944_ , with the initial designations in 1947 and completed in 1955 under the 40,000-mile limitation imposed by the 1944 _Act_ . President Eisenhower didn’t conceive the Interstate System, but his support led to enactment of the _Federal-Aid Highway_ _Act of 1956_ , which established the program for funding and building it. I love it when people diss me and then post a cite that proves I’m right. I didn’t say Eisenhower concieved them I said he wanted to build them here after he saw them in germany. Which your cite confirms he did. ---
**Author:** ![shh1313](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shh1313/32/8020_2.png) [@shh1313](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shh1313)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/51 "2021-05-13T15:39:09Z")
I was looking to see if there any news about diverting freight to rail transportation. So far nothing. Surely thats an option. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/52 "2021-05-13T16:49:27Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > Gee, sounds suspiciously like the country’s infrastructure is falling apart. > > Hmmmm. > > ~VOW Quick, unleash the floodgates, that $400B for home health care workers can’t arrive a moment too soon! The bridges won’t stand a chance without it. ---
**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, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/53 "2021-05-13T17:06:13Z")
> [@Crankyhillbilly](#): > > I love it when people diss me Perhaps you’d be less cranky if you didn’t internally characterize a discussion of factual claims about a mundane subject like transport infrastructure as people “dissing” you? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/54 "2021-05-13T17:11:56Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > > [@VOW](#): > > > > Gee, sounds suspiciously like the country’s infrastructure is falling apart. > > > > Hmmmm. > > > > ~VOW > > Quick, unleash the floodgates, that $400B for home health care workers can’t arrive a moment too soon! The bridges won’t stand a chance without it. This is inappropriately political for MPSIPS, as well as being off-topic. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/55 "2021-05-13T17:12:58Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > > [@Crankyhillbilly](#): > > > > I love it when people diss me > > Perhaps you’d be less cranky if you didn’t internally characterize a discussion of factual claims about a mundane subject like transport infrastructure as people “dissing” you? And this seems like an incipient fight threatening to be a hijack. Please drop this tangent, too. Whether THIS bridge has one or two spans, and how this bridge failed, might be rebuilt, etc., is on-topic. Whether bridges in the interstate system have two spans BECAUSE of defense needs is not on-topic. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/56 "2021-05-13T19:22:46Z")
I looked at it using Google satellite view. It’s a single bridge. It was easy to find other single bridges in the interstate system, like I-10 across the Mississippi near Baton Rouge, I-24 across the Ohio between Illinois and Kentucky, and I-70 across the Mississippi leading out of St. Louis. All of the I-40 bridge will have to be inspected closely to determine whether there are other big problems that need to be fixed. That this problem wasn’t discovered in last year’s inspection is troubling. ---
**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, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/57 "2021-05-13T21:02:51Z")
Back to twp bridges, I did see a bridge near Boston that had two levels of roadway. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/58 "2021-05-13T21:33:33Z")
Indeed. Here’s a photo of the I-70 Bridge in St. Louis under construction back in the 1960s. Clearly it was always a single span. > **[Building the Popular Street Bridge after 1966 in St. Louis mo | St louis...](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/360499145144514335/)** > > Mar 18, 2014 - Building the Popular Street Bridge after 1966 in St. Louis mo ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/59 "2021-05-13T23:59:35Z")
> [@Crankyhillbilly](#): > > This might be a coincidence but it happening when an infrastructure bill is being approved makes me suspicious. The publicity pretty much locks int he funds to replace it. Wait till it breaks and now you have to fix it has been SOP for the government, not sure why you would be suspicious. ---
**Author:** ![Crankyhillbilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Crankyhillbilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crankyhillbilly)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2021, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/60 "2021-05-14T00:32:54Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Wait till it breaks and now you have to fix it has been SOP for the government, not sure why you would be suspicious. That’s true and not the suspicious part. Just that a major shutdown occurs while they are pushing the bill makes me wander if they had problems and just decided to make a big deal out of them at this convenient time. Although in this case that might not be true. The 911 calls by the engineers doing the inspections seem to be legit. ---
**Author:** ![Crankyhillbilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Crankyhillbilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crankyhillbilly)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2021, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-40-bridge-into-memphis-closed-for-emergency-inspection-update-bridge-has-been-re-opened/941897/61 "2021-05-14T00:42:53Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Indeed. Here’s a photo of the I-70 Bridge in St. Louis under construction back in the 1960s. Clearly it was always a single span. Pic says construction in 1966 so unlikely the interstate standards were in place when it was designed. It had extra levels and and a second bridge added in the late 70s and carried several interstate. In 2014 a new I70 bridge was opened. It is a single span but a second bridge was planned but hasn’t been built yet. The new I270 bridge north of this one is going to be two spans as well. That one was built in the 60s as well. [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=2) [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=4)