Just How Safe Is the O'Neal Bridge

I have observed O'Neal bridge. I believe because of the steel structure and the spans are not to far apart, that it is a safe bridge.

I have a bridge phobia anyway. I needed to read this. Thanks, blues.

Its probably safer than swimming across and less safe than being wrapped in bubble tape.

Certainly if that bubble tape covers your face.

maybe bridge-phobia is why we have a hard time coming together as a single entity in the shoals. folks are scared of going across o'neal. I have been stopped for wrecks on the bridge, and when trucks pass in the opposite direction, it does move alot. but my understanding is that if it didn't have some flex built into it, that it would have come down a long time ago. all large structures, are like that. now whether its still as sound as it was when first built, I try not to think about it.

quote:

Originally posted by vick13:
I have a bridge phobia anyway. I needed to read this. Thanks, blues.

I have the same phobia, especially since I can't swim. I'll take the bubble tape.

I would trust Oneal Bridge before I would trust the newer Patton Island Bridge. It was built by men who were proud of their work, and the quality of workmanship was better then by today's standards.

Tell that to the rusty spots.

Just how old is the O'neal bridge?

I think the bridge shakes because of the joints. The joints move because of the weather. Metal swells when it's hot and shrinks when it's cold. If it didn't have the joints, the bridge may be too short in the winter. O.K. that was a little strechted, but you know what I mean.

As you drive across the Oneal bridge, look down on the pavement for the interlocking metal teeth, like a zipper. Those are the expansion joints and expand and contract with the temperature. All such bridges should have them. The rust spots are negligible to integrity of the structure.

Steel spans like Oneal have a long useful life span. The Patton Island bridge is made like the one that went down.

Please people, don't get all freaked out because of the media pushing your panic buttons.

quote:

Originally posted by Deano:
Just how old is the O'neal bridge?

Hey Deano.. I saw in the paper that O'Neal was built in 1939. That would make it 68 years old. Sheesh, just knowing that makes me shiver..

Construction of Wilson Dam began in 1918 and was completed in 1924. 83 yrs old !! like I say..shivers

Someone said today that there were at least 72,000 bridges nationally that were not up to specs or had out lived thier life span. That is what scares me. This bridge collapsed while they were repaving it and I rember when they repaved Oneal bridge and I still get freaked.

Wilson dam needs to retire that bridge to through traffic and use the new bridge which is much bigger.

quote:

Originally posted by Phoenix Rising:
Its probably safer than swimming across and less safe than being wrapped in bubble tape.

HAHAHAHAH!! Good stuff

Meanwhile the concrete domes at Haggia Sofia and the Pantheon have stood for about 2,000 years. And several bridges and acquaducts of the same age are still standing and in Spain one acquaduct is still working. Don't get your panties in wad, folks. Global warming or cooling may get you first!

Too true that we live in a disposable society. The bridge has to give; if it didn't, then it would collapse, much as a bone would break from pressure. Just FYI, I'm told for the first couple of years of O'Neal's existence, one had to pay .05 to travel across. I think this may have something to do with the Florence/Sheffield feud.

quote:

Please people, don't get all freaked out because of the media pushing your panic buttons.

I've been bridge phobic BEFORE I could read.

Perhaps, we should all get hyper about Alar on our apples! The odds of being on a bridge when it collapses is less that infintesimal.

Yeah, but I can spit that apple out, or wash it. And I would only fall 5'4" if I killed over from eating an apple. Not down into the water, either. Unless I was in the bathtub.

The odds don't mean anything,if you are that one in a million or zillion.Interventor,maybe you should inform the dead people in Minneapolis about their chances of being on a bridge when it collapses.

bridges all "move" constantly. if they did not give and flex they would certainly fall. its part of the plan.

quote:

Originally posted by danwlz:
Construction of Wilson Dam began in 1918 and was completed in 1924. 83 yrs old !! like I say..shivers

I'm more afraid of the dam than i am the bridge..... ever been under there? You dont wanna know....

quote:

bridges all "move" constantly. if they did not give and flex they would certainly fall. its part of the plan.

Don't confuse me with facts, just YOU drive, and hold my hand while we're crossing over the thing. And sing, loudly.

yankee,

I just refuse to live in fear of every thing. There's pleanty of serious stuff to worry about.

Interventor,I didn't mean to come across as a smart@$$.I am just terrified of bridges and have been all my life.

I have a silly question about the O'Neal Bridge - one that's fascinated me since childhood.

Can people actually WALK across the dang thing? It always seemed like there was some sort of central walkway which dropped down on the Florence side of the river and came out on the sides of the bridge (of course, that required one to go halfway across the busy streen on the Sheffield side). I always wanted to walk across that, but wasn't sure it was allowed. I think I only recall one person ever on it, and wasn't sure if that was a pedestrian or just a maintenance guy.

yankee,

Sorry, I know such phobias can be frightening. I don't mind caving, but deep mines are not a place I would wish to be.

jagorham,

There used to be a walkway that went thru the middle of the bridge, where the divider barriers are. You can see the old entrance on the Sheffield side, now locked up. The walkway was eliminated to widen the lanes for safety. I walked the bridge as a kid several times. If there is a seperate maintenance way, I'm not sure. But, I've seen access ladders from the river running up the support structures.

If that **** ever falls you'll end up in the river whether you're on it, Patton, or O'neal