Six local bridges structurally deficient

TDOT states that while they track deficiencies in state bridges, the list released "by no means indicates a safety issue with the bridges."

Attention is being given to bridges across the state following the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis last Wednesday.

According to a list released by TDOT, the bridges at Mount Moriah Branch, Wilson Creek, Fall Creek, Branch, Stokes Branch and a span on over the Duck River on Highway 130 fall into this category.

"The term 'structurally deficient' means that components of the bridge may be damaged or deteriorated, but not necessarily to a critical point where safety is an issue," a spokesman for TDOT stated.

TDOT says they will determine whether a bridge should be posted with a weight limit or ultimately be closed based on their inspection and evaluation. Mount Moriah Branch, Wilson Creek, Fall Creek are open while Branch and Stokes Branch have a weight limit posted.

Bedford County Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman said last week that out of the 191 bridges in the county that are inspected by the state, only one has a low weight limit that would cause him any concern: Stokes Branch on the old Highway 64, one mile outside of Wartrace, is the only structure that would cause any concern, Smotherman said.

The bridge only has a weight limit of three tons, but Smotherman pointed out that only two people live on the road and that no vehicles that large would have a reason to be on the road. The road is also a dead end.

Aside from the one bridge, Smotherman said he didn't have any concerns about any other span in the county.

All Bedford County bridges on the list were inspected in 2007, according to the state list.

"We have 17 bridge inspection teams who work diligently to ensure that each bridge across the state is inspected at least every two years," said TDOT Chief Engineer Paul Degges. "If there is any indication of a serious issue with a bridge, it is closed immediately."

With 19,519 bridges on public roads in Tennessee, they fall into two categories for the purpose of distributing state and federal funds: On-system bridges are those maintained, owned and operated by the state, such as the one over the Duck River on Highway 130. The other five are considered "off-system bridges," which are on roads owned, maintained and operated by local governments.

Currently, there are a total of 1202 bridges (6.1 percent) that are classified as structurally deficient and 2938 bridges (15 percent) which are classified as functionally obsolete.