Atlanta I-85 Bridge Collapse

I doubt it can ever be prevented 100%. The bridge is over a railroad so most likely the fiber was following the railroad. The permit from the railroad to the fiber operator should include a prohibition of storing or parking anything beneath bridges in the future, Including employees parking vehicles there during the day. Being caught storing stuff under a bridge should carry a very stiff penalty which the railroad is easily capable of and seem to be quite fond of doing.

I have seen commuter parking beneath bridges that could cause the same problem. Easements from the railroad to the highway dept. should include similar statements.

James

I have to wonder how the FD allowed this fire to get so intense. Plastic pipe isn't that inflammable, is it? Or was there something else in there? Did something prevent the FD from reacting in a timely fashion?

A fuel tanker ran into the Howe Avenue overpass abutment on US50 about a couple of decades ago and the ensuing fire collapsed the bridge. The driver had fallen asleep.

I take it was a lot of PVC pipe on pallets. The thick heavy smoke was obscuring the attack point. They had to bring in foam to quell it. When the bridge collapsed the fire continued because the concrete beams separated the burning material from the floor deck and there was no way for a firefighting stream to get to the confined combustion area.

Paul in PA

They are going to have to tear down the southbound lanes as well according to the GDOT presser
http://www.dot.ga.gov/AboutGeorgia/Pages/GDOTAnnouncementDetails.aspx?postID=154

Three arrested for starting the fire.

Paul in PA

Thank goodness I'm on the northwest instead of the northeast side of Atlanta. Upwards of 250,000 vehicles (each way) use that stretch of highway. They will have to demolish at least two more bridge spans before replacement work can begin. I85 will be closed for months, I expect a year.
Andy

Paul in PA, post: 421265, member: 236 wrote: I take it was a lot of PVC pipe on pallets.
Paul in PA

I had heard initially that it was fiber optic cable. It is highly unlikely that the fiber was stored under the bridge in any massive quantity. It was most likely large coils of innerduct and they would come back later and pull the fiber thru it.

After all the innerduct is in place, a different crew comes in and blows a string thru. That is used to pull a mule tape thru, and then the fiber is pulled thru.

Georgia DOT officials are still saying the piping was not combustible.

I have just read several articles and building code text on pipe combustibility.

Paul in PA

An article I read said it was HDPE which can burn but not easily.

33-48-49N, 84-21-57W. Check it out on Google Earth Street View. It looks to me to be just the stuff in JaRo's picture.

Most stuff that doesn't burn easily will still burn like crazy once that critical condition occurs. It's a bit like poking a balloon. It can withstand a lot if done slowly and evenly and remain intact until the critical condition finally occurs and then WHAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!

I spent a number of years working near tons of explosive material every day. Nothing to worry about so long as that critical condition was not allowed to occur.

Andy Bruner, post: 421372, member: 1123 wrote: Thank goodness I'm on the northwest instead of the northeast side of Atlanta. Upwards of 250,000 vehicles (each way) use that stretch of highway. They will have to demolish at least two more bridge spans before replacement work can begin. I85 will be closed for months, I expect a year.
Andy

I bet its open in 3 mos

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Roadhand, post: 421466, member: 61 wrote: I bet its open in 3 mos

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We had a contractor here, C.C. Meyers that would do just that and collect the bonuses. It was his business model.

The I 40 bridge collapse at the Arkansas River in Oklahoma in 2002 was reopened in 2 months, 3 days. That was over water.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I-40_bridge_disaster
The part about William James Clark was interesting!

Paul Holley was the lead surveyor.

Here is a blast from the past
http://community.pobonline.com/forums/viewtopic/75/1133593?post_id=1279703#p1279703

James

Roadhand, post: 421466, member: 61 wrote: I bet its open in 3 mos

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You may be right. Mattel got the contract.
Andy

If they do that, I will drive 3000 miles just to go on that stretch of road.......about 30 times.

[INDENT]

Roadhand, post: 421466, member: 61 wrote: I bet its open in 3 mos

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If they keep ICE agents away from the site.[/INDENT]