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FDOT Completes Review After Molino Bridge Collapse; Construction Resumes
July 24, 2018
Construction activities have resumed at a Molino Bridge project weeks after a collapse, but some portions of the bridge will be removed and reconstructed, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
On June 30 at the Barrineau Park Road (Hwy. 196) bridge over Jacks Branch, concrete for a bridge deck span was being poured into temporary forms when a rod and temporary truss failed. That caused two deck spans of concrete that had not hardened to fall into water below.
“There are some portions of the bridge that are structurally sound and will remain in place while other sections will be removed and reconstructed,” said Tanya Branton, public relations specialist for the Florida Department of Transportation. FDOT conducted a engineering reassessment following the collapse.
The contractor has also started work on the roadway approaches to the bridge and an embankment as the demolition of the damaged portions continues.
(article continues below photo)
Branton said the collapse was caused by the failure of a threaded support rod in the form system. The contractor is modifying its form system to prevent future problems.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) and other regulatory agencies were notified of the collapse and visited the site. They are not expected to issue any fines, according to FDOT.
The estimated completion date is now September 21, 2018. Prior to the form failure, the estimated completion was August 10, 2018.
On June 30, workers in the area noticed a “dip” as they were pouring the concrete and attempted a repair, but the form system collapsed,” FDOT District 3 Public Information Director Ian Satter told NorthEscambia.com in the hours following the collapse.
(article continues below photo)
It was the second incident in the bridge in June. Earlier in the month, crews were attempting to place concrete in another deck form that failed, causing the deck and truss under the form to sag, he said. That section of bridge deck was removed by the contractor (photos at page bottom).
GDB-US Constructors, Inc. of Parish, FL, is the contractor on the project, the lowest of four bidders. Satter said to his knowledge, this is their first bridge project in FDOT District 3, which includes the area from Pensacola to Tallahassee.
Barrineau Park Road at Jacks Branch has been closed since January with traffic detoured via Highway 29, Molino Road (Hwy. 182), and Highway 95A.
Photos obtained by NorthEscambia.com and NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pictured below: Sections of concrete bridge deck removed from the bridge after it began to sag three weeks ago can be seen to the right of the bridge.
Comments
13 Responses to “FDOT Completes Review After Molino Bridge Collapse; Construction Resumes”
I understand the contractor for the 3 Mile Bridge project is to receive millions in bonus money if completed by a certain time. I would hope they would not put the lives of someone ahead of bonus money. Lives are worth more than that, to me at least. Could this possibly be the case in this scenario as well?
Was there a real failure analysis conducted on this incident? Or did the same people involved (Contractor & FDOT) sweep another one under the rug? I think everyone understands the form failed and parts of the form (threaded support rod) broke in the process. Why did this happen? Why have we had a second failure on the same project? Was the threaded rod defective or not sufficiently sized for the load? etc. Where is the REAL FAILURE REPORT? I hope this will not be a case where “Third time is the charm”
I wonder if this is the same engineer that designed thousands of cracks into the new Pensacola Bay bridge?
Kick Back what lube we are just getting the shaft have been fore years
“GDB-US Constructors, Inc. is the contractor on the project, the lowest of four bidders. Satter said to his knowledge, this is their first bridge project in FDOT District 3, which includes the area from Pensacola to Tallahassee.” Their FIRST bridge project in our area! I am doubtful as to if they have truly had any other bridge projects. They came here to practice. I will not cross THIS bridge when I get to it! Wonder what the excuse is for the contractor building the new Pensacola 3 mile bridge. their concrete is cracking. Great! Wonderful! We will be their crash test dummies. Our lives are just as valuable as the state people making all these choices of contractors. Has me wondering if they are a bunch of illegal aliens stepping up their game lol. Advancing from putting up roofs to building our infrastructure?
the “lowest bidder” excuse is never valid. The overwhelming majority of everything around is is the product of the lowest bidder. For a nearly countless number of activities completed by lowest bidders, there will be problems with some of them. Every time something fails all the “Lowest Bidder!!!” screams come out. Sometimes there are failures. plain and simple.
Darrel, your right on you get what you pay for. Unfortunately, we, the taxpayers, are getting the ole lube and shaft job.
The problems with failing infrastructure continue and the incompetence in the government which has oversight is certain. I simply think about the concrete barriers where government trying to solve one problem had horrible crashes as the narrowed bridge sight lines which caused a rash of accidents, and when pointing it out, those folks tried to defend themselves on these comment pages after every crash. The bridge clearance is the same……duh! No, double duh!!
The truth is simple……we are not dealing with the brightest stars in the constellation, and government bureaucrats who are so called professionals are often marginal and not the best problem solvers. A threaded rod can fail, but when the same is added to the list of design, cost, and construction problems in the panhandle, there is a common denominator that these folks are marginal and the infrastructure needs are growing by the day..
“workers in the area noticed a “dip” I’m just going to leave that right there.
Should have enough practice after this is finished that is if they get to finish and the state doesn’t decide to supplement labor to complete the project with a contractor that has experience?
the one that gets me is the guy that said i been building bridges for 20 yrs and people should not say anything about the work thats being done that he knows all about building bridges lol are you kidding me in 20 yrs he hasnt learned anything sounds like he needs to get a job doing something that takes no brains lol apparently he never learned how to build a bridge it fell down not 1 time but 2 times !!!!!!!
How about a wooden covered bridge? Those are still standing, like old people, lol.
LOWEST bidder !!!. You get what you pay for.