Michigan Avenue Bridge Closed To All Trucks

By Steve Alexander Reporter

Engineers have found bridge has deteriorated Michigan Avenue Bridge Closed To All Trucks

Published: Tue, April 08, 2008 - 7:57 pm

Steve Alexander

Mobile city leaders put new safety restrictions Tuesday on a popular bridge.
Trucks and buses will no longer be allowed to cross the Michigan Avenue Bridge leading into Brookley Field.
The city has put up "No Trucks" signs around the bridge.
There are also signs on Interstate Ten telling trucks to use the Broad Street entrance to Brookley Field.
Al Stokes, the chief of staff for Mobile Mayor Sam Jones, said, "The determination is that the bridge has deteriorated a little beyond what we had originally determined."
In January, the city put weight restrictions on the bridge of 16 tons or less.
But city officials say Thompson Engineering has been continuing to check the bridge, and has now said trucks should be restricted.
Stokes said, "Basically, what's determined is that there's a little bit of shifting."
Even though new signs are up, News Five saw three big rigs, a fuel tanker truck and even a bus cross the bridge in a period of about five minutes.
City leaders say the span is still safe for cars.
However, they are hoping to find the money needed to replace the bridge.
Watch WKRG News Five or log on to wkrg.com for the latest updates.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has maps of every state that show structurally deficient bridges. Click here to see the maps.