MEMPHIS, Tenn. — If the tragic collapse of condominium buildings in Surfside, Florida, has taught us anything, it’s that taking care of infrastructure needs is critical. Any legitimate hints of danger must be addressed promptly, no matter how costly or time consuming.
Which brings us to the repairs being made to the I-40 bridge across the Mississippi River in downtown Memphis. Of course, the crack discovered on a bridge beam May 11th cannot be compared to the terrible loss of life in Florida, but it does show that officials in Tennessee and Arkansas made the right call in immediately shutting down traffic across the 48-year-old span.
Since then, crews have been working to reinforce the structure with steel slabs, steel plates, and some 4,000 bolts to keep it all in place. It is a time-consuming process, which is why there is no time table for reopening the bridge, and I’m fine with that. This is a job that cannot be rushed, despite the economic toll and inconvenience to motorists having to use only the I-55 bridge to get across the river. Closing the I-40 bridge likely averted a catastrophe.
Meanwhile, the grief and anger by loved ones of those buried in the Florida rubble are understandable, and time will tell if warning signs were ignored. We salute the brave rescue workers risking their lives in a frantic search for possible survivors.
That’s my point of view, I’m Otis Sanford, for Local 24 News.