Posted on 09/16/2004 10:51:10 AM PDT by OXENinFLA
James Tayler (sp?) has a really good song about that
on his live DVD.
Now consider what happens to all the businesses that no longer get the I-10 traffic. This is really gonna hurt.
Heck, half of Santa Rosa County commutes to Pensacola every day. Not no, it seems. Even if the businesses re open in a few days, if you can't get there, what about one's job and income? Ouch!
This sux big time.
This one isn't one of the bridges going accross to Gulf Breeze or out to P-Beach. This is the one that is I-10, you go over this one on your way to/from Talahasee
the truck was east bound but west bound was also out
29 can get cleared but the little 2 lane roads up to the little bridge over teh Escambia River won't sustain commuter traffic. And that adds an hour to the commute on a good day. I've had to do it when the I-10 bridge is closed for an accident. The re routed traffic effectively closes Hwy 90 and the towns of Milton, Pea Ridge, and Pace.
This really is worse than it looks.
The three mile bridge is the one that goes over to Gulf Breeze (aka Bob Sykes bridge I think), that one is part of or at least accessed via I-110. This one is different
But it has sections out if it, too.
How'ed the three mile bridge do?
Has there been any word on how badly damaged the westbound span is? If it'll safely take a load, FDOT could at least set up temporary detours and make the westbound deck two-way while they repair the eastbound side. Still will suck but it'd be better than nothing.
I'd say it's more like: "Me 18-wheeler truck driver. If don't get this load delivered on time, I don't make my next truck payment....or eat."
http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/blogs/stormteam/2004/09/digest-latest-need-to-know-facts.html
Virtually every major bridge in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties has been closed indefinitely to all traffic, according to information from Florida Emergency Management and the Florida Highway Patrol. A quarter-mile section of eastbound Interstate 10 bridge over Escambia Bay connecting Santa Rosa and Escambia counties was missing; the westbound section of I-10 was damaged but still standing. A roughly 30-foot section is missing from Bob Sikes Bridge, which is the bridge from Gulf Breeze to Pensacola Beach. The Navarre Beach Causeway is closed because of damage. The Garcon Point Bridge and the Pensacola Bay Bridge were closed because of structural damage. The Lillian bridge on U.S. 98 at the Florida-Alabama state line is closed because of structural damage on Alabama side and flooding on Florida side. The U.S. 90 bridge over Escambia River, between Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, is closed because of hurricane debris. The Perdido Key Bridge on State Road 292 is closed because of flooding.
For the majorit. Heck, my brother is a truck driver. Some are pretty smart, but this guy had to be spaced out.
I later saw the cab disappeared in the water along with the driver, so it is too bad he may have been killed.
Still, a late truck payment does not take precedent over saving your life. The dude was stupid.
And every one of them has to be cleaned, foundations inspected, repeired before the surface paving and structures gets replaced ......
What's worse: Invisible damage: The"extra's that are always discovered as soon as you try to remodel: each time new problems are found behind theold "it looked ok" facade.
The Hwy 90 bridges replacement bridges just opened up after about 2 years of construction.
The broken buildings are easy to see, but I don't think any of us yet comprehend what the damages to these bridges will do to the area.
IMO, we need to think years out, not just days or weeks.
My s-i-l in MS sent me a picture of this today. Why in the world was the truck on the bridge during that storm? Did the driver survive?
...whoops, wrong bridge.....
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A tractor trailor rests on a section of I-10 bridge that crosses Escambia Bay, in Pensacola, Fla., Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004, that was damaged by Hurricane Ivan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) |
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A news crew videotapes the front of a tractor-trailor that had fallen over a missing section of the Interstate 10 bridge near Pensaloca, Fla., Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004. Hurricane Ivan left a section of the highway missing its roadbed. (AP Photo/U.S. Coast Guard (news - web sites), Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew Kendrick) |
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The rear part of the trailer of a semi-truck is all that is left after the front half sank into a gap in the I-10 bridge over Escambia Bay north of Pensacola, Florida is cut in two by Hurricane Ivan September 16, 2004. The driver of the truck was reported missing. REUTERS/Rick Wilking |
Some VERY good pics at this DHLS site.
Wow. That really gives me the creeps. I have travelled over those bridges many a time, and they never bothered me much. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge in St. Pete was once a thrill for me until I went over it and viewed the drop-off from when the barge ran into it. The first time I went across the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan, I was not too thrilled. The wind was blowing mighty hard, and they had the speed limit set at 25 or some such because of the wind. Our vehicle was a-blowin too much for me. They were very close to shutting down the bridge that morning.
It'll be a while before those bridges are reopened. And it'll be a pain for travellers. But it'll be good for businesses that get the rerouted traffic.
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