In the article, “I-5 and the Physics of Bridge Collapse,” Hartsfield (2013) has stated that most bridges including the I-5 bridge failed due to inevitable design flaws. The author implies the possibilities that can cause a bridge to collapse including construction errors or miscalculations for cantilever, and high external force for suspension bridges. According to Hartsfield (2013) “A truss bridge holds as long as the beams themselves don’t break and the joints stay together.” In this regard, a truss bridge can collapse once a part of the structural beam fails. He further states that the unfortunate tragedy of the I-5 truss bridge might have been due to the impact caused by a truck, as it crashed into one of the beams. Hartsfield also mentions that nevertheless, it is critical to understand the underlying problem to determine the actual cause of collapse in bridges.
While truck collision has contributed to the collapse of I-5 truss bridge, four main negligence factors played the key roles to this catastrophe. First of all, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) should have ensured that every permit given out had obliged to the vertical height clearance level. As WSDOT is responsible for acknowledging the proposed routes for company’s oversized vehicles; it should have checked that all registered vehicles were suitable to utilise the I-5 bridge before granting permission. According to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) (2014), companies were not prompted to perform route surveys, since WSDOT did not technically review permits in an authoritarian manner.
Secondly, the pilot and truck drivers involved in the accident has conduced to the I-5 bridge failure. The pilot car driver should have taken more responsibilities in her duty of escorting the truck. According to NTSB (2014), the pilot driver was on the phone when passing through the I-5 bridge. It was also reported that the antenna of the pilot truck was misaligned which might have caused a malfunctioned measuring system. Nevertheless, the reason to why the pilot driver failed to alert the truck driver about the danger is, either because of the faulty measuring system of the pilot car or her being too distracted to notice the warnings. The truck driver should have followed the pilot car at a further distance. Ouellette (2016), “following the pilot car too closely.” The truck driver did not tail at a recommended distance. Anyways, he would not have ample responsive time to avoid the collision even if being alerted.
A third notable factor is the lack of attention to monitor the bridge. Preventive measures could have been set up to reduce the risk of the bridge collapsing, if these documents on bridge strike were managed attentively. According to NTSB (2014), the collision of the structural beam with oversized trucks had happened multiple times; and the data on these bridge strikes of the I-5 bridge were not diligently recorded.
A final significant point of negligence factor is the design flaws of the I-5 bridge. Vertical height of the I-5 bridge changes throughout the different lanes; the height in the middle is taller. Ouellette (2016), “variable vertical bridge clearance.” The I-5 bridge is constructed with a curve top. Road users in general would not have consider the variation of vertical height when utilising the I-5 bridge. Regardless, the truck driver collided with the structural beam by two inches when he drove in the lower height lane to give space to another vehicle.
Everyone needs to play their role solemnly to avert similar tragedy from happening again. WDSOT should review proposed route for all oversized vehicles strictly, at the same time providing mandatory training on safety for both truck and pilot drivers. A database can be establish to monitor the newly built I-5 bridge, and practice resolving problems as soon as it emerges. The new design of the I-5 truss bridge should be reinforce to ensure that the vertical height is same throughout all the lanes.
Reference:
Hartsfield, T. (2013). I-5 and
the physics of bridge collapse. RealClear Science.com. Retrieved
May 28, 2011 from https://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2013/05/29/i-5_and_the_physics_of_bridge_collapses_106544.html
National Transportation Safety
Board. (2014). Washington State I-5 Bridge
Collapse Abstract. Retrieved July 15,2014 from https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2014_I5_Bridge_BMG-Abstract.aspx
Ouellette, J. (2016). New
analysis confirms why the skagit river bridge collapsed. GIZMODO.
Retrieved August 16, 2016 from https://gizmodo.com/new-analysis-confirms-why-the-skagit-river-bridge-colla-1785842162
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