DOT: 17th Street bridge work to be done by month's end
Contractors completing installation of a new fencing railing across the Midtown bridge following the 2011 incident when the bridge's decorative railing came crashing down on the I-75/85 downtown connector.
The installation of a new fencing railing across the 17th Street bridge should concluded by the end of January a Georgia Department of Transportation spokesperson has told Patch.
In August 2011, a portion of the decorative railing on the bridge came crashing down on the I-75/85 downtown connector in an incident that fortunately resulted in no injuries.
The south pedestrian sidewalk on the bridge was immediately closed following the incident.
The resulting investigation determined an epoxy or glue that did not properly hold the bolts in place were to blame. That glue process has not been repeated during the current installation as contractors since late last year have been bolting the bolts through the wall of the bridge.
Urbanist
10:52 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Oh, good...because if it would have gone past month end, that would have just taken way too much time. The year+ it already took is acceptable though. Atlanta = Joke City.
Ed
10:52 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Really? You have a second chance to get it right but all you do is duplicate the previous ugliness getting it so, so wrong again. This wind-whipped tangle of steel and mesh could not be less appealing. It is sad that the DOT didn't take this opportunity to re-construct this fencing with something more aesthetically pleasing.
Robert Miller
7:15 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
@Ed I think the design is nice. Did you submit your designs to the DOT? *crickets*
Tim
10:21 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Robert, actually there was a design contest, and a push for a "gateway" or "signature" type bridge, but these were discarded and the least expensive built. Hopefully for safety's sake they have corected all the fundamental design flaws. Wonder if they are going after the orginal builder/designer for these additional costs?