“We’re not sure at this point how long the bridge will be closed, but it will be a lengthy closure,” Warren County Engineer Kurt Weber said.
Weber said his office is working on a plan to replace the bridge.
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
The closure was the result of a rapid deterioration and failure of the northeast bridge wingwall, which compromised the east bridge abutment.
“This closure was totally unexpected, as there were no signs of any issues during our annual inspection of this bridge at the end of December,” Weber said.
The Franklin-Trenton Road bridge over Dry Run was rated poor, structurally deficient overall during an October 2023 inspection, the most recent available on the Federal Highway Administration’s National Bridge Inventory database.
The structural evaluation stated the bridge built in 1981 that spans nearly 47 feet “meets minimum tolerable limits to be left in place as is” but noted the substructure was in poor condition with advanced section loss, deterioration, spalling or scour and that bank protection was in need of minor repairs.
Motorists should plan for alternate routes and use caution in the area, a statement from the city of Franklin read.
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