Federal inspectors are expected to take a closer look at a series of cracks discovered on Nevada’s Galena Creek Bridge. Congressional committee members requested to expand the investigation due to safety reasons. The cracks are reportedly up to 30 ft long and are about as wide as a dime. Repairs could cost as much as $1 million.
“Although [the Nevada DOT] claims the cracks are not indicative of major structural problems, some believe that the design deficiency could shorten the bridge’s lifespan by up to 10 years,” Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) wrote. Oberstar is the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Spanning 1,700 ft, the Galena Creek bridge, which also is designed to be 300 ft high, will be the biggest concrete cathedral arch bridge in the world when complete.
The Nevada DOT was already on a watch list after an former construction worker complained he was ordered to do substandard concrete work on the Galena Forest Bridge in an effort to save money.
Oberstar and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), who is chairman of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, have ordered Inspector General Calvin Scovel III to make sure contractor C.C. Myers and the Nevada DOT are building both bridges using a method that is “consistent with federal engineering requirements for safety and structural integrity.”
The Nevada DOT believes the Galena Creek bridge is safe and is still planning on completing the span by fall of 2011. The agency also plans to strengthen the southbound span with reinforcing steel and concrete. The cracks will be filled with epoxy.
