The bridge that collapsed Wednesday near Prairieville was rated to carry no more than 24,000 for each axle. And the three-axle truck that rolled over it as it collapsed weighed as much as 100,000 pounds, a Texas Department of Transportation spokeswoman said.

“Right now that’s the apparent cause,” said Kelli Petras. “It’s obviously the first thing you would look at and assume.”

Bumper of car that fell into creek

A car following the truck across the bridge fell into Cedar Creek, injuring three people. On Thursday afternoon, only the bumper was above water.

The semi-trailer was hauling a large track hoe to be used on the road. The trailer with the hoe remained tilted into the creek Thursday as workers put up concrete barriers to block the bridge on the south side. North of the bridge, more than three miles of FM 1836 were closed, including a bridge similar to the one that collapsed.

Ms. Petras TxDOT accounts for weight-limited bridges and roads before construction begins and draws up alternate routes. “Obviously the truck didn’t use the alternate route.”

Backhoe still stuck in Cedar Creek

The truck also had crossed at least one other bridge with a 24,000-pound limit. That bridge, about a mile north of the one that collapsed, also is under construction. In addition to the weight limit, three-inch diameter holes have been drilled completely through the bridge surface in a line from side-to-side, much like the perforations on paper in a spiral binder.

Ms. Petras said she didn’t know why the holes had been drilled and didn’t know if the holes would weaken the bridge. She said all the bridges in the area are being inspected to make sure they are structurally sound.

Crossing the bridges with an overweight truck is a violation of law, Ms. Petras confirmed, but said another agency such as the Department of Public Safety would have to issue any citations.

She said she didn’t know how long the bridge would be out; the quickest way to replace or repair still is being assessed.

In the meantime, about three miles of the road is closed. The suggested detour is FM 2515 through Ola to Highway 243 to Highway 47 to Highway 90.

“We apologize for the inconvenience,” Ms. Petras said, but “we are not going to open the road until we know it’s safe just to be convenient.”

© Copyright 2005-2008 by Kaufman County Online

Top of Page