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Damaged girder closes lane of Lincoln Avenue bridge
The Colorado Department of Transportation has closed a lane of the Lincoln Avenue bridge over Interstate 25 because of safety concerns for a cracked girder.
By By: Chris Michlewicz
The Colorado Department of Transportation has closed a lane of the Lincoln Avenue bridge over Interstate 25 because of safety concerns for a cracked girder.
CDOT Spokesperson Mindy Crane said the girder sustained minor damage after a forklift being carried on a flatbed truck hit the bridge as it passed under on I-25 last November. The right lane of eastbound Lincoln Avenue over I-25 will remain closed through the end of March.
"We realize that during rush hour a lot of people use Lincoln. We're asking people who can use alternate routes to please do so," Crane said.
The initial damage was not serious enough to require an immediate repair, but a recent check-up by CDOT showed the beam was cracked. Crane said the follow-up evaluation revealed the crack was the result of "weather variations" that caused the girder to contract and expand. The lane was closed immediately after the discovery of the crack out of concern for public safety.
The forklift that struck the girder exceeded the height requirement posted on the bridge, said Crane, adding that such accidents happen frequently. A flame straightener will be used to repair the girder, which is a horizontal support beam made of steel.
Eastbound Lincoln Avenue will be closed to one lane at the bridge, but only for short periods of time and not during peak traffic times. Crane said there is a "good possibility" northbound I-25 will be closed for a short time after 9 p.m. Exact dates of the closures will be released in coming weeks.
Crane said the lane will be closed through March because "that's the amount of time it takes to get a contractor out there to repair it." Repair crews that use flame straighteners are rare and often difficult to schedule, she said.
CDOT could change the timing of traffic signals in the area if traffic congestion becomes a problem.
Contact Chris Michlewicz at cmichlewicz@ccnewspapers.net.
CDOT Spokesperson Mindy Crane said the girder sustained minor damage after a forklift being carried on a flatbed truck hit the bridge as it passed under on I-25 last November. The right lane of eastbound Lincoln Avenue over I-25 will remain closed through the end of March.
"We realize that during rush hour a lot of people use Lincoln. We're asking people who can use alternate routes to please do so," Crane said.
The initial damage was not serious enough to require an immediate repair, but a recent check-up by CDOT showed the beam was cracked. Crane said the follow-up evaluation revealed the crack was the result of "weather variations" that caused the girder to contract and expand. The lane was closed immediately after the discovery of the crack out of concern for public safety.
The forklift that struck the girder exceeded the height requirement posted on the bridge, said Crane, adding that such accidents happen frequently. A flame straightener will be used to repair the girder, which is a horizontal support beam made of steel.
Eastbound Lincoln Avenue will be closed to one lane at the bridge, but only for short periods of time and not during peak traffic times. Crane said there is a "good possibility" northbound I-25 will be closed for a short time after 9 p.m. Exact dates of the closures will be released in coming weeks.
Crane said the lane will be closed through March because "that's the amount of time it takes to get a contractor out there to repair it." Repair crews that use flame straighteners are rare and often difficult to schedule, she said.
CDOT could change the timing of traffic signals in the area if traffic congestion becomes a problem.
Contact Chris Michlewicz at cmichlewicz@ccnewspapers.net.
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