IH10 @Ralph Fair..Bridge damaged, freeway lane (was) closed (San Antonio: sales, insurance)

[GoTexan]

Any of you all see this today?

My husband called to inform me about possible traffic since I was flying in from out of town today and we live near that area.

Just wondering if anyone that lives in Boerne/Fair Oaks caught a glimpse of the accident. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

Report states interstate is now open. (see below)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 p.m. MONDAY — Officials closed a lane of westbound Interstate 10 at Ralph Fair Road until further notice while crews assess damage an 18-wheeler inflicted to a bridge.

6 p.m. UPDATE — The I-10 lane is open again.


The Ralph Fair Road bridge, also called FM 3351, will be closed until repairs are made, the Texas Department of Transportation announced. The truck was hauling a wind energy system.
"TxDOT cautions motorists to drive carefully on this section of road and obey all safety signs," a statement says.

[TexHwyMan]

Apparently one of those 18-wheelers that hauls parts for the wind mills out in W Texas hit the overpass. There's enough damage to the underside of the overpass that it needs to be repaired before it can be used by traffic again. Fortunately, there's no danger of it collapsing as long as no traffic uses it, so it will remain closed until the repairs are done.

I got this update from TxDOT today:

SAN ANTONIO – The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is in the process of preparing an emergency contract to repair the damage to the Ralph Fair Road (FM 3351) bridge over IH 10 caused by an 18-Wheeler carrying a wind energy system that occurred yesterday.

Once the contract has been awarded this week, work on the bridge will begin no later than Monday, July 7, 2008 and is estimated to be completed in two months, weather permitting.

"We've mobilized forces to expedite the bridge repair and minimize disruption to the many folks driving in this vicinity,” states Julie Brown, P.E., Interim TxDOT District Engineer for the San Antonio District.

Traffic on Ralph Fair Road on the IH 10 westbound side that plan to travel east on IH 10 will need to use Fair Oaks Parkway or Boerne Stage Road until work is complete.

[sotxag62]

The TransGuide website noted that it may be two months before the bridge is repaired and open.

This is now creating more congestion at FairOaks Parkway, and at the Leon Springs exits west on I-10.

Be sure to let your local elected officials to get TXDOT arse in gear to get this repaired.

[GoTexan]

Originally Posted by sotxag62

The TransGuide website noted that it may be two months before the bridge is repaired and open.

This is now creating more congestion at FairOaks Parkway, and at the Leon Springs exits west on I-10.

Be sure to let your local elected officials to get TXDOT arse in gear to get this repaired.

That light at ralph fair and IH 10 East drives me batty when people are trying to turn left, it's such a quick light and not many make it through and there is one one lane for everyone to wait in.

Guess we wont have that problem specifically, right now.

[TexHwyMan]

Originally Posted by sotxag62

The TransGuide website noted that it may be two months before the bridge is repaired and open.

This is now creating more congestion at FairOaks Parkway, and at the Leon Springs exits west on I-10.

Be sure to let your local elected officials to get TXDOT arse in gear to get this repaired.

It's a difficult repair because it will essentially require replacement of the entire eastern span of the overpass. It's hard to get a contractor that can just walk in and do a job like that overnight, especially since they'll need to have custom-length beams cast for it. They might even just replace the whole overpass while they're at it; I'll try to remember to ask about it next week.

That said, while they say it might be two months, I'm confident there will be incentives in the contract that will reward the contractor for earlier completion and we'll probably see it done in a month or so.

[TexHwyMan]

Originally Posted by TexHwyMan

That said, while they say it might be two months, I'm confident there will be incentives in the contract that will reward the contractor for earlier completion and we'll probably see it done in a month or so.

As predicted by yours truly , the Ralph Fair bridge re-opened today. There will be at least one more closure tomorrow and/or Wednesday to complete some finish-up work, but otherwise, it's done.

[mrstxcop]

yup...it sure is done --- we just drove over it...

[GoTexan]

Originally Posted by TexHwyMan

As predicted by yours truly , the Ralph Fair bridge re-opened today. There will be at least one more closure tomorrow and/or Wednesday to complete some finish-up work, but otherwise, it's done.

Yahoo! Finally, relief!

I did not realize how many people used that bridge. Since it's been closed, traffic would back up along other routes. Finally, we had officers from the Bexar County Sheriff Dept directing traffic. That helped out quite a bit.




I will tell you though, when I would get stuck in the congestion, I'd watch people's faces and I have never seen so many frustrated drivers in one spot.

Look out, we may see an increase in Botox sales since many will now need to 'plump up' all those furrowed brows!

Think TxDot will help foot the bill?

[TexHwyMan]

Originally Posted by GoTexan

I will tell you though, when I would get stuck in the congestion, I'd watch people's faces and I have never seen so many frustrated drivers in one spot.

Look out, we may see an increase in Botox sales since many will now need to 'plump up' all those furrowed brows!

Think TxDot will help foot the bill?

Ha! They should all file claims with the insurance company of the truck that caused all of this mess to begin with!