SEVERAL BRIDGES IN CUMBERLAND AND ROANE IN POOR CONDITION OR UNDER PLAN OF ACTION
With the recent issue of a vital bridge over the Mississippi River at the Tennessee/Arkansas line and the announcement of the bridge replacement on I-40 over the Clinch River in Roane County, 105.7 News took a look at others in need of repair in the area.
On-System bridges are those maintained, owned and operated by the State of Tennessee. They include bridges on or over the Interstate Highway System, the State Route Highway System, and miscellaneous highway bridges, like those in state parks. There are currently 8,420 On-System bridges, of which 271 (3.2 %) are considered poor.
Off-System bridges are those found on roads owned, maintained, and operated by local governments, including counties, cities and townships. There are currently 11,495 Off-System bridges, of which 605 (5.3 %) are considered poor.
The state has identified needed repairs on 7,428 bridges at an estimated cost of $3.7 billion.
Bridges in Tennessee are inspected every 24 months as expected by federal law, unless the condition of it necessitates a re-inspection.
Here is a look at the bridges in Cumberland and Roane County that are either under a “plan of action” or “state owned bridges under poor condition.” Plan of action reports indicate potential or immediate problems with the structure and need to be addressed.
You will also see the word “scour” in some of these reports. Scour is the engineering term for the erosion of soil surrounding a bridge foundation.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY – STATE OWNED UNDER POOR CONDITION – 7 BRIDGES
BRIDGE ON I-40 OVER HIGHWAY 70 NORTH (two of them close to Putnam County line) – Both built in 1963.
BRIDGE ON I-40 OVER HIGHWAY 70 EAST (Crab Orchard) – Built in 1966, this bridge recently was worked on after an accident.
BRIDGE ON HIGHWAY 70 OVER FALL CREEK (Ozone area) – Built in 1926, this is one of the oldest bridges in the county according to TDOT.
BRIDGE ON HIGHWAY 127 OVER BYRDS CREEK (just north of Homestead) – Built in 1961.
BRIDGE ON HIGHWAY 127 OVER THREE MILE CREEK (just north of Homestead) – Built in 1962.
BRIDGE ON HIGHWAY 127 OVER CLEAR CREEK (at Cumberland/Fentress County line) – Built in 1952.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY – PLAN OF ACTIONS – 12 BRIDGES
BRIDGE ON DUNBAR ROAD OVER BASSES CREEK – Built in 1940, it has an unknown foundation and risk of scouring cannot be determined.
BRIDGE ON WESTEL ROAD OVER PINEY CREEK – Built in 1979, it has an unknown foundation and risk of scouring cannot be determined.
BRIDGE ON HIGHWAY 28 OVER BRANCH – Built in 1950, it has an unknown foundation and risk of scouring cannot be determined.
BRIDGE ON OTTER CREEK ROAD OVER DADDY’S CREEK – Information not available.
BRIDGE ON SEQUATCHIE LANE OVER SEQUATCHIE RIVER – Built in 1970, it has an unknown foundation and risk of scouring cannot be determined.
BRIDGE ON SPARTA DRIVE OVER OBED RIVER STREAM (small bridge) – Built in 1926, it has an unknown foundation and risk of scouring cannot be determined.
BRIDGE ON TAYLORS CHAPEL ROAD OVER CANEY FORK RIVER – Built in 1978, scouring is critical and should be monitored.
BRIDGE ON MYATT CREEK ROAD OVER MYATT CREEK – Information not available.
BRIDGE ON OLD HIGHWAY 70 OVER BEAM CREEK – Built in 1938, it has an unknown foundation and risk of scouring cannot be determined.
BRIDGE ON HIGHWAY 68 OVER SPRING BRANCH – Built in 1952, it has an unknown foundation and risk of scouring cannot be determined.
BRIDGES ON HIGHWAY 68 OVER GRASSY COVE CREEK (two of them) – Both built in 1951, it has an unknown foundations and risk of scouring cannot be determined.
It should be indicated TDOT recently announced plans to replace two bridges in Crossville. One is on Sparta Highway over the Obed River near Kroger. The other is on Highway 70 North over the Obed River near the park. Neither of these appears on the list of plan of action or poor condition.
ROANE COUNTY – STATE OWNED UNDER POOR CONDITION – 2 BRIDGES
BRIDGE OVER CLINCH RIVER ON I-40 (KINGSTON) – TDOT has plans to replace the bridge in Roane County over the Clinch River on I-40 in Kingston. The project is in the initial planning stage now and the earliest work could start would be mid to late 2022 if not later. The bridge was built in 1960. Transportation officials estimate just over 49,000 vehicles travel on the bridge a day.
BRIDGE OVER EMORY RIVER ON HIGHWAY 27 (HARRIMAN) – The structure was built in 1957. Bridge scour reported critical at last report.
ROANE COUNTY – PLAN OF ACTIONS – 9 BRIDGES
BRIDGE ON PANSY HILL DRIVE OVER EMORY RIVER – No detailed information was available.
BRIDGE ON PONDERS GAP ROAD OVER STAMPS CREEK – It was built in 1970. The bridge has an unknown foundation and a risk of scour can’t be determined.
BRIDGE ON OLLIS ROAD OVER POPLAR CREEK – It was built in 1970 and the bridge has an unknown foundation and a risk of scour can’t be determined.
BRIDGE ON POPLAR CREEK ROAD OVER DAVIDSON CREEK – Built in 1979, it has an unknown foundation and a risk of scour can’t be determined.
BRIDGE ON CHANDLEY ROAD OVER BUCK CREEK – Built in 1934, it has an unknown foundation and a risk of scour can’t be determined.
BRIDGE ON GUM HOLLOW ROAD OVER POPLAR CREEK – Built in 1950, it has an unknown foundation and a risk of scour can’t be determined.
BRIDGE ON SOUTH ROANE STREET OVER BARNETT BRANCH – Built in 1968, it has an unknown foundation and a risk of scour can’t be determined.
BRIDGE ON STATE ROUTE 72 OVER BRANCH – Built in 1970, it has an unknown foundation and a risk of scour can’t be determined.
BRIDGE ON BLAIR ROAD OVER DAVIDSON CREEK – Built in 1977, it has an unknown foundation and a risk of scour can’t be determined.
When this list of bridges will be addressed has not been released so far.