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State Sen. Raymond Finney, R-Maryville, is pushing the Tennessee Department of Transportation to post information about the state’s bridges on the TDOT Web site.
If that doesn’t happen voluntarily, Finney said he will introduce a bill to force it.
In a letter sent Friday to TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely, the senator said the “catastrophic collapse” of an Interstate bridge in Minneapolis “should serve as a wake-up call for all states to inspect and repair aging infrastructure.”
He pointed a finger at states for not keeping up with bridge maintenance and replacement.
“Many states have joined Tennessee in deferring highway projects in order that tax revenue may be spent on more popular projects,” he wrote.
The American Society of Civil Engineers gives the nation’s bridges a near-failing grade of D, according Finney, and recommends that $1.6 trillion be spent over the next five years to bring bridges up to acceptable standards.
He said much of the solution will come from federal assistance but he wants to be certain “that we are doing as much as possible in the state of Tennessee to protect our citizens and visitors.”
“Because a bridge collapse is so costly in terms of replacement and the loss of human life, the public should be assured that bridges are inspected at regular, acceptable intervals and that appropriate repairs are made in a timely manner.”
He requested that TDOT post the following information for “significant” bridges in the state:
n TDOT’s policy on inspection of bridges, and whether the interval and scope of inspection meet acceptable civil engineering standards;
n The name and location of each bridge in the report.
And for each bridge:
n Type of inspection (complete and comprehensive or limited inspection; and why limited inspection is chosen, rather than comprehensive inspection);
n Date of the last inspection;
n Date of the next scheduled inspection;
n A listing of any adverse inspection findings (stress fractures, scouring erosion, inadequate design for traffic load and so forth);
n A verbatim or accurate synopsis of any recommendations of the engineering inspection team;
n A schedule of corrective actions planned by TDOT to make the bridge safe;
n Any other pertinent information regarding safety issues or repairs.
Finney wrote he was encouraging TDOT to voluntarily post this information, but informed Nicely that if that did not happen he would introduce a bill in 2008 to require it.
He also urged that the administration rebuild the state’s highway fund by starting to restore funds that were diverted to other budget items in past years.
“The local highway departments in my district are excellent and are devoted to roadway maintenance and safety, but local government funding — already stretched thin through support of education and other needs — must be supplemented,” Finney wrote.
He sympathized with the “Herculean tasks faced by your department” but suggested to Nicely the state start adding new infrastructure as possible.
Finney closed with a request of Gov. Phil Bredesen.
“Mr. Governor, I hope your 2008 State of the State address will offer measures to improve safety and assurance for Tennessee motorists and more efforts to restore the highway fund.”