Tractors behaving badly

[MossRoad]

Bummer for the bridge, I've been across it.

Can't say I've ever been on that one.... and probably can say I won't ever, now....

First time we went to Eagle Creek park was last summer. Seems to be just north of there a bit.

 

[RobS]

Can't say I've ever been on that one.... and probably can say I won't ever, now....

First time we went to Eagle Creek park was last summer. Seems to be just north of there a bit.

Yeah, I grew up not far from there...

I'm sure modern bridges are stronger but most don't have the character of these old structures. There is a bridge park/museum off I-94 between Battle Creek and Marshall that is nice to visit.

 

[MossRoad]

I'll check it out. Thanks.

 

[mapper]

Steel truss bridges are rather susceptible to sudden failure when you bend or break one or two bits.
An over height semi load dumped the south bound lanes (3) of I5 into the Skagit River about six years ago. Driver didn't move into the center lane where there was adequate clearance.
Steel truss bridges are an elegant engineering solution that can carry a lot of weight, but they will fail pretty spectacularly with a small amount of damage to certain components.

 

[k0ua]

Steel truss bridges are rather susceptible to sudden failure when you bend or break one or two bits.
An over height semi load dumped the south bound lanes (3) of I5 into the Skagit River about six years ago. Driver didn't move into the center lane where there was adequate clearance.
Steel truss bridges are an elegant engineering solution that can carry a lot of weight, but they will fail pretty spectacularly with a small amount of damage to certain components.

I suspect it wasn't the weight, but like you said he tore it down with the disc.

 

[Looking4new]

Three guesses who bought a bridge and the first two don't count.

 

[groundcover]

Hate it when that happens!

 

[LD1]

Interesting indeed, but some things dont jive.

I watched the news video that mossroad posted.

1. Mentioned that driver said he was almost across when he seen a top piece starting to come down.
Sure didnt look like he was almost all the way across?

2. Bridge only rated for 20t.....Yet not marked as such? Legal weight to be on the road without an overweight permit is 40t. I thought all bridges not rated for at least that had to be marked?

3. No mention in any of the articles or on the report about it being a narrow bridge or low clearance. Again, usually anything under 13'6" is clearly marked. And I have a hard time believing that the tractor and disc was taller than 13'6"

Just a wild guess here......but I suspect the tractor didnt hit the bridge. I would guess that the bridge started to collapse. Once that happend....THEN the tractor started tangling with the steel braces

 

[k0ua]

I think he hooked the bridge supports, not from height, but from width. Of course it is all speculation, The news never ever ever tells you anything about what happened in ANY situation. We all just have to guess.

 

[coldsteelva]

I think the 3/4 statement is how far ONTO the bridge he made it. The tractor/attachment consist was about 3/4 of the way onto the bridge before the attachment struck.