Bridge Inspection

MAXIMUM LOAD AT 5 MPH

TRUCKS 12 TONS (previously 15 tons)

SEMIS AND TRAILERS 19 TONS (previously 27 tons)

NO CONCRETE TRUCKS

If the trucks do not adhere to the 5 MPH speed limit, the Board has been advised by the engineering company that we will need to further reduce the weight limits on our bridge.

Members are advised to relay this information when making arrangements for any type of delivery or removals from the island. These include, but are not limited to: Gravel, topsoil, and other landscaping material deliveries; lumber yard deliveries; appliance and furniture deliveries; dump trucks, logging trucks, and septic pumper trucks. A flyer (in pdf format) that has more detail and can be printed and sent to your vendors is available here.

We do not profess to have captured all the different types of trucks that can and have crossed our bridge, so please advise your vendors that their loaded trucks MUST be below the maximum allowed weight limit.

Our bridge was recently inspected by Exeltech, Inc. One requirement of the inspection contract was to validate the safety of the bridge for the currently posted load and speed limits. Exeltech informed the Board on Thursday, April 9th that there were some immediate concerns in regards to the posted bridge load limits.

The Board acted swiftly and revised the physical load limit sign on the mainland side of the bridge on Friday, April 10th.

A notice was mailed out to all TICC members on April 15th. A pdf copy of the original notice can be seen here.

Although the complete inspection report has not yet been received, the load carrying capacity of the bridge was calculated and found to be marginally safe for truck and semi & trailer loads, but not for concrete trucks.

Calculations were based on two bents that were identified as the weakest points on the bridge. At these two bents, the top sections of the south piles have rotten cores. These two piles have very little structural strength and therefore the load is carried to the remaining two piles at each bent. Fortunately, the remaining two piles at these bents are structurally sound and can take the added load for the truck or semi but not the concrete truck.

Because of the larger weight of the standard 10 yard concrete trucks which weigh 13 tons empty, already over the 12 ton limit, they are not allowed to cross the bridge.

The Bridge Inspection report is due to be completed in time for Exeltech to do a presentation at the May 2nd, 2009 board meeting. The Board meeting starts at 9:00am and the tentative time of 10:00am has been scheduled for their presentation.

The Board members have been gathering information from the various organizations that regularly cross over the bridge to do business on our island. We have listed some of them here, and plan to update this website as we receive more information.

The Grapeview Fire Department was contacted and their vehicle weight, axle loads and axle spacing were conveyed to the Engineering company for evaluation. The Engineering company ran the numbers, and the fire truck, pumper truck and medic unit are all ok for crossing the bridge.

Garbage collection will continue on Fridays, with the exception that collection will begin at 06:00 AM. Treasure Island will be moved to the beginning of the route. The garbage truck weighs 10.8 tons empty with approximately 1 ton of garbage being collected during the summer when most people are in residence on the island. This will ensure the garbage truck does not exceed the 12 ton limit.

Several propane suppliers have been notified of the reduced load limits however we don’t know every company that our members use. When arranging for delivery, be sure your provider is aware of the reduced weight limits. Most of these companies will exceed the limit by several tons if they arrive with a full tank.