The issue was solved, but will it happen again?
The issue did not last long, as the sheriff's office issued a Nixle alert saying the bridge was operational about five minutes after one reporting the problem.
The Mathis Bridge was closed from Oct. 30 until May while the state Department of Transportation worked on the first phase of a multiyear project to update and repair the bridge, which is 65 years old.
The project
The $74 million federally funded project will replace the existing bridge deck on the bridge, make safety improvements to the barrier and railings, and repair and replace mechanical and electrical components that operate the moveable lift span.
To be exact here is what the project will include. The proposed improvements to the Mathis Bridge will include:
- replacement of the deck in the moveable span, flanking spans and the approach spans
- safety improvements to the barrier and warning gates and railings
- substructure repairs
- structural steel repairs
- bearing replacement and some painting
- mechanical/electrical rehabilitation of the machinery and controls
Improvements will also be made to the approach roadway, guide rails, bridge and approach lighting, the traffic signal at the westerly jug handle and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) devices. Also, the Mathis Bridge deck width will be improved to provide three ten-foot wide lanes.
Note that approach roadway work is required in the immediate bridge vicinity to transition the roadway at each end for compatibility with the revised bridge deck geometry.
The bridge was reopened for the summer tourist season and will close again in October to allow work to resume. The project is expected to be completed in 2018.
Your Thoughts?
Is the bridge too dangerous to pass? Will the project be implemented successfully? When should be exactly fully recovered and reopened? Let us know in the comments below.
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