I think they're really fortunate that it didn't drag down the rest of the span (so far). Imagine the bottleneck of river commerce if everything by that point had to instead go through the canal, Barkley Dam, and up the Cumberland.
Looks like the state should question some of there bridge inspectors who are not doing there job correctly. Like Steve vick!!! How many more are this dangerous and just not getting checked properly???
The land had shifted and gave way. The collapse was not because from lack of maintenance. And the Old Ledbetter Bridge was opened to traffic in 1931; that's eighty-three years.
Like I posted here earlier, the STATE was fully aware of the bridges condition at least 20 yrs ago when they DEEMED IT THE MOST DANGEROUS BRIDGE IN KENTUCKY after an unscheduled inspection they were required to do because of the huge number and severity of peoples complaints voiced to them. I know this for a fact!
Mark THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing these pictures. It breaks my heart to see this BUT I THANK OUR HEAVENLY FATHER for watching over everyone who crossed that path . My sister crossed it everyday for 20 years. "Thank You Jesus for keeping your mighty hands on everyone that ever cross the Ledbetter Bridge. Thank You Jesus for our New Ledbetter Bridge & the men who built it."
Now Local News Channel 6 can publish Some Local News.Thank God no one was hurt.Stay Tuned Channel 6 will keep You Updated Unless A cat gets stuck in a tree in Southern Il.I've never seen a cat skeleton in a tree. But if it were to you could Stay Tuned to Local 6 for Further Updates.
yall need to chill thangs get old just like ppl do no matter how much ppl try to fix their selfs from getting older it is the same with stucture. I had been going over that bridge for over 30 yrs, no one got hurt they built a new one to take it's place......so chill n let up on ppl will ya geeeeez also if you had been hit as many times as the bridge has u would collapse too .........it saddens me it will be missed :)
I just want everyone to take into perspective now when you see road workers out working on the roads and the bridges that the maintenance they are doing means something! This bridge went a year without any maintenance. So try next time your stuck in traffic or you speed by the men/women working on the roads to have some patience, because as annoying as it is to your day their job truly matters.
Great shots Mark D. McCoy. It's good that no one was hurt. It is great that a new bridge had already been built and put into use before the land gave way causing the bridge span collapse. If the ground had not shifted, then the bridge would still be standing. Wow, the Old Ledbetter Bridge had been in use since 1931; long time to stand and carry traffic. And think of the changes of that traffic from the 1930's until 2013.! Not only have vehicles gotten bigger, heavier, but also many more to cross it than their were in 1931. Eighty-Three (83) years is a long time to have been used.
It takes time to move the equipment into place to start tearing down the bridge. I use to work as a security on the river so i know how long it takes to move equipment that large
It took 2 decades to get new bridge from inspection, to have bids submitted, etc. And the state documented back then that it was "most dangerous in state of Kentucky". Look how much of a close call it was. Its unbelievable that it was well known to the big dogs for SO LONG and just sit around and wait until it collapsed. For it to collapse in such a small amt of time of non use,how much longer would it have been with the weight limitations traffic? Weeks? Months? Scary to say the least. Smithland bridge was in a close second so I hope to hell there is come changes SOON or we had better be asking some questions to our state.
My Dad was almost killed going off that bridge in February, 1960. He was driving my uncle's tractor-trailer from Smithland to Paducah to park it, and my Mom was two cars behind him so she could pick him up. His truck skidded on ice and jack-knifed, causing the cab of the truck to rip through the guard rail and dangled over the side. He fell 60 ft. to the ground on the Livingston County side, but luckily before he got to the river. When Mom came around the curve and approached the bridge, she saw the wreck...a terrifying day for her. My Dad was injured badly and was out of work over a year. That bridge has forever been burned in the memories of my family all these years and we were forever thankful the bridge didn't take his life that day. He's been gone 12 years and although he carried those physical scars to his grave, I know he would be sorry to see the bridge fall. I feel sad to see such a huge part of the river history of that area disappear.
WOW!
ReplyDeleteWas only a matter of time
ReplyDeleteThank god we caught it in time before some one got hurt
ReplyDeleteI think they're really fortunate that it didn't drag down the rest of the span (so far). Imagine the bottleneck of river commerce if everything by that point had to instead go through the canal, Barkley Dam, and up the Cumberland.
ReplyDeleteGood shots, Mark!
wow, thank god that no one was hurt.
ReplyDeleteAwesome!
ReplyDeleteOk the local news got the big collapse (with video) that they were hoping for. Can we NOW start demolition before any more of this bridge falls.
ReplyDeleteLooks like the state should question some of there bridge inspectors who are not doing there job correctly. Like Steve vick!!! How many more are this dangerous and just not getting checked properly???
ReplyDeleteThe land had shifted and gave way. The collapse was not because from lack of maintenance. And the Old Ledbetter Bridge was opened to traffic in 1931; that's eighty-three years.
DeleteLike I posted here earlier, the STATE was fully aware of the bridges condition at least 20 yrs ago when they DEEMED IT THE MOST DANGEROUS BRIDGE IN KENTUCKY after an unscheduled inspection they were required to do because of the huge number and severity of peoples complaints voiced to them. I know this for a fact!
DeleteJust think, if someone like Steve Vick hadn't been doing his job the new bridge may have never been built.
DeleteMark THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing these pictures. It breaks my heart to see this BUT I THANK OUR HEAVENLY FATHER for watching over everyone who crossed that path . My sister crossed it everyday for 20 years. "Thank You Jesus for keeping your mighty hands on everyone that ever cross the Ledbetter Bridge. Thank You Jesus for our New Ledbetter Bridge & the men who built it."
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing! WOW! (loved that old bridge!)
ReplyDeleteJust think....A year ago we were driving on it.
ReplyDeleteGravity. Not just a good idea, it's the law. Once the supports got out of vertical then it was not IF but when it was going to fail completely.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAmazing pics! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteShe served her people well. Just glad for new bridge is open.
ReplyDeleteNot that long ago people were still using that bridge daily!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd the bridge would of been fine if the pressure of the cars was still on it it would of kept its planted and it would of lasted longer
ReplyDeleteas a little kid in the '60s, while we were driving across the bridge I thought that was going to happen. Lol
ReplyDeleteNow Local News Channel 6 can publish Some Local News.Thank God no one was hurt.Stay Tuned Channel 6 will keep You Updated Unless A cat gets stuck in a tree in Southern Il.I've never seen a cat skeleton in a tree. But if it were to you could Stay Tuned to Local 6 for Further Updates.
ReplyDeleteThankful no one was injured. I think it's awesome there are picto document the collapse. Great job!
ReplyDeleteHaiku: "Ode to the Old Ledbetter Bridge"
ReplyDeleteStanding many years,
This redneck's Eiffel Tower,
I'm gonna miss you.
Can you believe they just stopped using it this time last year
ReplyDeleteyall need to chill thangs get old just like ppl do no matter how much ppl try to fix their selfs from getting older it is the same with stucture. I had been going over that bridge for over 30 yrs, no one got hurt they built a new one to take it's place......so chill n let up on ppl will ya geeeeez also if you had been hit as many times as the bridge has u would collapse too .........it saddens me it will be missed :)
ReplyDeleteThese are GREAT pics....thanks so much for sharing !
ReplyDeleteI hope the Brookport bridge is not next!
ReplyDeleteI just want everyone to take into perspective now when you see road workers out working on the roads and the bridges that the maintenance they are doing means something! This bridge went a year without any maintenance. So try next time your stuck in traffic or you speed by the men/women working on the roads to have some patience, because as annoying as it is to your day their job truly matters.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots Mark D. McCoy. It's good that no one was hurt. It is great that a new bridge had already been built and put into use before the land gave way causing the bridge span collapse. If the ground had not shifted, then the bridge would still be standing. Wow, the Old Ledbetter Bridge had been in use since 1931; long time to stand and carry traffic. And think of the changes of that traffic from the 1930's until 2013.! Not only have vehicles gotten bigger, heavier, but also many more to cross it than their were in 1931. Eighty-Three (83) years is a long time to have been used.
ReplyDeleteWho ever got the contract to demo it down should lose that contract
ReplyDelete/
It takes time to move the equipment into place to start tearing down the bridge. I use to work as a security on the river so i know how long it takes to move equipment that large
ReplyDeleteIt took 2 decades to get new bridge from inspection, to have bids submitted, etc. And the state documented back then that it was "most dangerous in state of Kentucky". Look how much of a close call it was. Its unbelievable that it was well known to the big dogs for SO LONG and just sit around and wait until it collapsed. For it to collapse in such a small amt of time of non use,how much longer would it have been with the weight limitations traffic? Weeks? Months? Scary to say the least. Smithland bridge was in a close second so I hope to hell there is come changes SOON or we had better be asking some questions to our state.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad was almost killed going off that bridge in February, 1960. He was driving my uncle's tractor-trailer from Smithland to Paducah to park it, and my Mom was two cars behind him so she could pick him up. His truck skidded on ice and jack-knifed, causing the cab of the truck to rip through the guard rail and dangled over the side. He fell 60 ft. to the ground on the Livingston County side, but luckily before he got to the river. When Mom came around the curve and approached the bridge, she saw the wreck...a terrifying day for her. My Dad was injured badly and was out of work over a year.
ReplyDeleteThat bridge has forever been burned in the memories of my family all these years and we were forever thankful the bridge didn't take his life that day. He's been gone 12 years and although he carried those physical scars to his grave, I know he would be sorry to see the bridge fall.
I feel sad to see such a huge part of the river history of that area disappear.