Overpass Concrete

[dik]

Just heard on the news, and didn't catch the overpass location, but there is another overpass in Quebec, Canada that is shedding concrete... more when I hear it.

Dik

 

[dik]

Just from the CBC...

Quebec overpass closed after reports of crumbling concrete
Last Updated: Friday, December 29, 2006 | 5:32 PM ET
The Canadian Press

Transport Quebec closed a busy overpass on the island of Montreal on Friday after reports of falling concrete.

The northbound overpass is just off Highway 20 in the western suburb of Pointe-Claire.

A Transport Quebec spokeswoman said some drivers reported seeing small pieces of concrete falling from the structure.

An overpass north of Montreal collapsed in September, killing five people and injuring six.

Officials still haven't said what caused the collapse. Former Quebec premier Pierre Marc Johnson is heading an inquiry into the tragedy.

 

[cooperDBM]

Bits of concrete fall from bridges more often than you might think. Most are non-structural (rotting fascia, etc.) and are cleared away quickly by road crews. Quebec is very sensitive to this problem because of the September collapse where some concrete fell and was cleared away hours before the collapse.

Here in Ottawa (Ontario) a foot long piece fell through the windshield of a truck. It of course made the news and luckily no one was hurt. The troubling thing about this case was that a couple of days later the City and the Railway that used the bridge were still debating who owned the bridge. If they didn't know who owned it then I wonder if anyone had been maintaining and inspecting it regularly.

 

[dik]

I wasn't aware the concrete fragments were that common. The Laval overpass collapse was inspected a few hours earlier and it might have been that it was a common occurance that failed to run up any flags.

thanks, Dik

 

[MichSt]

Falling concrete from bridge decks is not uncommon. Drive through Detroit, Michigan. You’ll see plywood false decking or chain link fence under quite a few bridges. Deicing chemicals used in the northern states and Canada rot away bridge decks very quickly.

If I were in Transport Quebec I would have closed the bridge too based on the recent collapse. Do they mention if this deteriorating bridge is the same type as the one that collapsed?

 

[dik]

No... only that there had been an earlier collapse of a bridge.

Dik