re: Riverboat driven into the support structure of the I-10 bridge in Lake Charles..

quote:

---

This is flat out not true and dumb. Structurally the bridge is fine. It will last as long as they need it to. There is no danger structurally to the bridge.

It is functionally obsolete. Meaning it is old so standard have been updated and it no longer meets some of those standards.

---

You are almost correct. The bridge does have structural problems such as loss of section in main members and connection points. If Louisiana just painted their assets every 10 years we wouldn't have a state full of deteriorated steel bridges.

The "structurally deficient" number thrown around in the media and earlier in this thread includes things like no shoulders, narrow approaches, non-spec bridge rail, etc. Things that make it functionally obsolete.

These are all separate numbers behind the scenes but it is protected information. Many of the news articles don't have all of the information and are misleading.