Information from the Austin Statesman focus on the recent bridge collasping in Minnesota and those articles begin to raise questions about our own bridges here in Texas.
Of coarse, our local government stands confident about the structure of our surrounding bridges. Stated in the Austin Statesman, all Texas bridges are examined at least every 24 months and sometimes throughout the year for small maintance issues. The collaspe of the bridge in Minnesota made some residents of Texas a little uneasy. Never have I thought that maybe a bridge in Texas would collaspe; and as a matter of a fact I'm sure not many other residents have too much to worry about.
I believe our state and local government has met all the criteria of maintaining safe and structurally solid built bridges. Now, bridges that are being found that need work are refered as "structurally deficient." However, money that in the past has gone to the Transportation Department is now going to the state's general fund. This money that is being distributed to other funds in the government is what raises more concern about durability and maintance needed for some of the bridges. As a whole, Texas has done considerably well with all the inspections of bridges that took place in 2006.
Our government, state and local, have kept the conditions of the bridges in, at least, good condition. Our money is going to the right places. Anything that is significantly wrong with any Texas bridge causes the bridge to be completely shut down and not reopened until construction is complete, this is what prevents such events of a collasped bridge from occuring. Now that the events of the Minnesota bridge collaspe is known nation wide, our local governments are reassuring us, as residents, the stability and durability of the bridges in our area. It is comforting knowing the conditions of the surrounding bridges. Our state government has kept on top of such issues as bridges before and after the recent bridge collaspe. It restores the confidence I have in our government that they are in no doubt and are secure enough with they own system to publish the facts of our own local bridges and how safe they are to be driven on.
Friday, August 3, 2007
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2 comments:
Nice post. I hope your confidence in our ability to keep Texas' bridges safe is warranted.
It is amazing the raise in awareness that has occurred due to the Minn bridge. Thankfully, as you have said, most of our worries are taken care of and we can for the most part drive with sound mind.
I would just like to say that these things are no safe guard. We're just lucky we don't have to salt icy bridges over and over again every winter. That small factor contributed much to the miscalculation of the structural integrity of the bridge I believe.
It's the small things that get us in trouble even in hot dry Texas. Like, for example, when it rains incredible amounts that we are not used to, it changes whole construction projects. My dad works with the city fire department and was telling me of a project gone bad, and part of it was to be future bridge usage. The rain caused the mud to do things they didn't think about but with a quicker reaction than the salt water up north (instead of years to go bad, it was just a matter of days and hours).
In any case, those things are so carefully watched over that I have no doubt that you are safe to see our state is watching our backs as we drive on through.
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