Repair to bridge barrier smashed by big rig could delay traffic 2-3 weeks

This television screen capture shows the big rig after it crashed through the bridge wall and fell into the bay. (Associated Press)

The Associated Press

8/26/2008

BALTIMORE — Repair work will begin immediately to reinforce a Bay Bridge barrier wall that a tractor-trailer careened over during a deadly accident earlier this month, and significant delays are expected during the next two to three weeks, state officials said Tuesday.

Inspections of the barrier wall using ground-penetrating radar and other techniques found corrosion of steel reinforcement inside the barrier sections, something not visible during routine inspections, said Geoffrey Kolberg, the chief engineer for the Maryland Transportation Authority.

John Porcari, chairman of the authority, said a review found the bridge was safe for motorists but the repairs were being done to enhance the structure's safety. Other repairs would be made if needed, Porcari said.

"Look at this as a beginning, not an end to the process," Porcari said.

Police have said the accident occurred when a Camaro sideswiped the truck, which then crossed over the opposite lane and struck the jersey wall. The truck's cab rode up on top of the barrier before the trailer struck the wall, causing it to break and rolling the truck off the bridge into the bay.

L-shaped steel brackets will be attached to the concrete barriers to more securely anchor them to the bridge deck and guard rails will also be installed along 2,300 feet of the right side of the eastbound span near where the accident occurred, authority spokeswoman Kelly Melhem said.

The speed limit on the eastbound span of the bridge is also being lowered to 40 mph from 50 mph, the authority announced.

When asked if the barriers could withstand a similar accident, the engineer said the bridge was safe but added "you have to recognize the parapets are not designed for tractor-trailers," Kolberg said. Banning tractor-trailers from the bridge was not an option, he added.

Kolberg had previously said the truck was traveling about 55 mph — which he called "a high rate of speed."

Kolberg said at the time that the truck knocked about 8 feet of the jersey wall into the water on its way down. Truck driver John Short, 57, of Willard, was killed in the accident.

Marcus Brown, chief of the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, also said investigators are still awaiting the results of toxicology tests to determine whether the driver of the Camaro was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Such tests are routinely conducted after serious accidents.

When asked if the corrosion contributed to the accident, Kolberg wouldn't speculate saying that part of the investigation has not been completed. However, the chief engineer said about 20 percent of the bridge has been inspected and authority officials are "confident that we are starting in the right place."

"The bridge is safe, we have taken a proactive approach here in response to the Aug. 10 accident."

The round-the-clock repair work is expected to cost about $3 million. The repairs are not being done on the westbound span, which has a steel barrier system, Kolberg said.

The engineer said higher barriers were a possibility, but engineers have to consider the additional weight and how it would affect the bridge during a crash.

While repairs are under way, Porcari urged motorists to use alternate routes or travel during off-peak times. The transportation authority recommended drivers heading from the Baltimore area to Ocean City take Interstate 95 north to Route 1 and travel south through Delaware.

Christine Delise, a spokeswoman for AAA Mid-Atlantic, said the automobile club still has concerns about two-way traffic on the spans. But she said Tuesday's announcement was "a great start, and the fact that they are choosing to undertake them immediately demonstrates a commitment to safety that we are glad to see."