Defective Bridge Will Not Stop Tour of Missouri
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Defective Bridge Will Not Stop Tour of Missouri

Date: September 6, 2007
By: Courtney Cox
State Capitol Bureau

 

Intro: Tour of Missouri officials say a defective bridge will not stop the race.

Courtney Cox explains.

Repairs to Missouri 17 bridge near Tuscumbia will not stop the Tour of Missouri bicycle race next week.

The bridge was dicovered to be deteriorating during an inspection prompted by Governor Matt Blunt.

The governor ordered the checkup after the fatal bridge collapse in Minnesota this summer.

 

 Chuck Hodge is the Technical Director for the race.

 
Actuality:  HODGE1.WAV
Run Time: 00:10
Description: "We have some protocols we put in place. Obviously if the bridge were to completely wash away or something that would be a bigger issue. But we have some ways we can handle that internally.


The Missouri Department of Transportation will begin repairs on Monday.

The race is scheduled to cross the bridge on Friday, September 14.

 From the state capitol, I'm Courtney Cox

RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

Intro: A Tour de France champion will be challenged by a defective bridge next week as part of the Tour of Missouri. Courtney Cox has more on the story.

Tour de France champion Albert Contrador of Spain will be riding his bike across a Missouri bridge similiar to the Minnesota bridge that fatally collapsed this summer.

The bridge, located on Missouri 17 near Tuscumbia, was found to be deteriorating after Governor Matt Blunt called for checkups on Missouri bridges.

The Missouri Department of Transportation is set to make repairs on Monday.

The race is scheduled to cross the bridge in later that week.

Bob Lynch is an engineer for MoDOT. He was intervied by cellphone at the bridge site.

Actuality:  MODOT4.WAV
Run Time: 00:09
Description: "Basically we have a structual member that runs underneath the bridge that we have to repair. It should not cause in problems for the Tour of Missouri race."


 

Currently, traffic on the bridge is restricted to vehicles weighing less than 24,000lbs.

The bridge will be completely replaced in 2010.

From the state capitol, I'm Courtney Cox

RunTime:
OutCue: SOC