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Inspectors Give Thumbs Up To Rock County Bridge
Bridge Similar In Design To Minneapolis Bridge That Collapsed
UPDATED: 7:32 am CDT August 9,
2007
EDGERTON, Wis. -- Commuters and travelers can rest easy when they next drive over the Highway 51 bridge south of Edgerton in Rock County. A state Transportation Department engineer said that the bridge passed inspection on Wednesday.
SLIDESHOW: See Photos Of Rock County Bridge InspectionGov. Jim Doyle ordered the immediate inspection of 16 bridges in Wisconsin that are similar in design to the steel deck truss bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis last week.The Highway 51 bridge is a triple truss bridge last inspected in September 2006. Bridge Maintenance and Inspection Engineer Matthew Murphy said that the bridge is rated "satisfactory" or "good," WISC-TV reported.The bridge was built in 1938 and carries 7,600 vehicles a day. It has a sufficiency rating of 69 on a standard scale of 100, Murphy said. The sufficiency scale indicates bridge rankings for federal funding needs. The lower the number, the more need for federal funding for replacement or repairs, he said.During last year's inspection, officials made note of vertical cracks in a wall, as well as rust and erosion problems."There is a little rust here and there but not much change," Murphy said. "I would say that I wouldn't be alarmed at finding any of this. It looks similar to the last time I was here in September 2005."An Edgerton woman who travels the bridge at least twice a day said that she's relieved the bridge is being looked at. Theresa Alvizar said that when she found out the bridge passed inspection, she felt relieved, WISC-TV reported."I feel much better about making this trip every day," Alvizar said.Inspectors have checked four bridges already on Wednesday and will inspect the Main Street bridge over the Apple River in Somerset later on.Doyle said that the inspections should be completed in the next two weeks. The governor also announced that the Department of Transportation will install movement sensors on those bridges so they can be monitored around the clock.The Rock County bridge was targeted to receive sensors, but they're not being installed on Wednesday. Department of Transportation spokesman Mike Bie said that they could be installed within two to four months.
SLIDESHOW: See Photos Of Rock County Bridge InspectionGov. Jim Doyle ordered the immediate inspection of 16 bridges in Wisconsin that are similar in design to the steel deck truss bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis last week.The Highway 51 bridge is a triple truss bridge last inspected in September 2006. Bridge Maintenance and Inspection Engineer Matthew Murphy said that the bridge is rated "satisfactory" or "good," WISC-TV reported.The bridge was built in 1938 and carries 7,600 vehicles a day. It has a sufficiency rating of 69 on a standard scale of 100, Murphy said. The sufficiency scale indicates bridge rankings for federal funding needs. The lower the number, the more need for federal funding for replacement or repairs, he said.During last year's inspection, officials made note of vertical cracks in a wall, as well as rust and erosion problems."There is a little rust here and there but not much change," Murphy said. "I would say that I wouldn't be alarmed at finding any of this. It looks similar to the last time I was here in September 2005."An Edgerton woman who travels the bridge at least twice a day said that she's relieved the bridge is being looked at. Theresa Alvizar said that when she found out the bridge passed inspection, she felt relieved, WISC-TV reported."I feel much better about making this trip every day," Alvizar said.Inspectors have checked four bridges already on Wednesday and will inspect the Main Street bridge over the Apple River in Somerset later on.Doyle said that the inspections should be completed in the next two weeks. The governor also announced that the Department of Transportation will install movement sensors on those bridges so they can be monitored around the clock.The Rock County bridge was targeted to receive sensors, but they're not being installed on Wednesday. Department of Transportation spokesman Mike Bie said that they could be installed within two to four months.
Previous Stories:
- August 7, 2007: Doyle Wants Sensors On Bridges
- August 7, 2007: La Crosse Hospitals Prepared For Mass Casualties
- August 7, 2007: Edgerton Bridge To Be Inspected On Wednesday
- August 6, 2007: Report: More Than 1,400 Bridges Considered Structurally Deficient
- August 4, 2007: 5 Of State's Bridges Similar To Minneapolis Bridge Rated Poorly
- August 3, 2007: State Authorities Express Confidence In State's Bridges
- August 3, 2007: Wisconsin Salvation Army Workers Helping In Minneapolis
- August 2, 2007: Wisconsin Offers Emergency Management Assistance After Bridge Collapse
Copyright 2007 by Channel 3000. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
