Memphis I-40 Bridge Closed

[TenOC]

Over the Mississippi River

[BackOfThePack]

Latest I’ve heard is to avoid the crossing from 0630 to 2100.

[1320Fastback]

Bridge nearing the end of it's life cycle and a classic Fatigue Crack right after a super strong gusset area. Wonder if they will waste money repairing it or replace it?

The 911 call was a mess. The operators im sure thought they were being pranked. The inspectors should of just used their own vehicles to block traffic in hindsight.

[PHM4LR]

The inspectors reaction was pretty close to total panic. Called 911, to get the bridge closed and to get traffic off the bridge.

[docsouce]

We're heading that way in mid June. Want to pick up US 412 at Columbia Tn then head west. We'll be traveling in our Jayco 26xd, 32 ft OAL with the bikes hanging off th rear. I checked out this Doreen-Hickman ferry that crosses the River at Hickman Ky. Looks like it will handle our RV ok. Might be an adventure to make our way there then on to US 412 after we cross??..Fortunately we aren't pressed for time. We'll see what things are like when we are approaching that area.

[BackOfThePack]

IH-55 into or out of Memphis is a terrible bottleneck. Try to avoid.

If IH-40 is the route E-W you’ll want to divert N on IH-55 at West Memphis, AR to Dyersburg, TN on IH-155 and then run back SE to IH-40 near Jackson, TN on US-412. That’s a set of VG roads and used by big trucks.

An alternative is cut south at Little Rock, AR towards Pine Bluff to Lake Village, AR and cross the river into Greenville, MS on US-82. This is a great deal slower (but a pleasant drive). Take 55N back to the 269-Loop.

IH-20 at Vicksburg will be heavily trafficked the foreseeable future.

IH-10 at Baton Rouge (or the Huey P on US-90) has been a terrible bottleneck for years.

The Dyersburg route is the “best” alternative (unless you want to run as far north as St Louis)

[rhagfo]

I don't think "a crack" covers the "Fractured member" correctly.
I believe the design of the bridge is refereed to as a tied arch, and the member that fractured is one of the ties.

I wonder the inspectors reaction was when they saw the fracture!

[Dave_in_TN]

dedmiston wrote:
Reminder:

Forum Rules wrote:
Political and religious posts, pictures, links, signatures etc. are not allowed in these forums and may be removed without notice or discussion.

I had to delete a couple posts.

Please stay on topic.

Thank you.

Now to the topic at hand, this is a big deal not only due to the impact on a major East/West interstate, but also the impact to barge traffic on the Mississippi. So in effect, two major thoroughfares, one East/West and one North/South, are affected. But the good news is, the crack (which looks pretty major based on the pictures) was discovered before anything catastrophic occurred.

As for RVers heading through that area, at this point traffic appears to be worse heading eastbound than westbound. Perhaps it's the time of day, or perhaps the way that 40 and 55 come together on the Arkansas side impacting things.

[dedmiston]

Reminder:

Forum Rules wrote:
Political and religious posts, pictures, links, signatures etc. are not allowed in these forums and may be removed without notice or discussion.

I had to delete a couple posts.

Please stay on topic.