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More news, as follows:
Crumbling bridge may pose SCUBA hazard
Reported by: Eric Glasser
Email: eglasser@wptv.com
Photographer: Dan Puente
Last Update: 9/29 8:32 pm
Blue Heron Bridge
RIVIERA BEACH, FL -- One of the favorite local scuba spots for divers in Palm Beach County is the east side of the Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach, because it's easy enough for beginners, and teaming with rare wildlife and small wrecks from recent hurricanes.
But recently, work crews have been responding to reports of a potential hazard. Large chunks of concrete falling from the eastern flat portion of the bridge.
"We sent a crew Sunday to go check it out," says John Danielsen, a bridge engineer with the Florida Department of Transportation.
Danielsen says FDOT is aware of the crumbling concrete.
They work with a subcontractor to maintain the 60 year-old span.
The crew out at the bridge last week identified another spot of concern, and will be back out again, he says, this week.
"We're gonna check the whole bridge again. We're gonna remove that little spot to make sure it doesn't fall," said Danielsen.
From the divers' persepctive the danger is pretty clear. If a chunk of concrete falls on soemone's head it could knock a diver unconscious, or if large enough, even pin someone under the water.
"You're under the water breathing on scuba, that's not exactly the safest scenario," says Mark Kosarin, a dive instructor at the nearby Force-E dive shop.
"I've heard it from more than one diver that pieces of the bridge are actually coming down. Which is very sad," says Kosarin, "Because i'm not gonna bring my students under there now."
The bridge itself has visible sections where concrete has fallen away, and deep cracks where it looks like more could detach soon.
The DOT says it's moved-up its scheduled replacement of the entire bridge to next year.
Until then, divers, and for that matter drivers, may be comforted to know that state workers are aware of the cracking issues.
"We'll be on the bridge every month, every two months, whatever it takes to make that bridge safe," says Danielsen.
FDOT also says a full inspection of the bridge is normally scheduled once every two years, but given the situation, they have accelerated that to once every six months.
Crumbling bridge may pose SCUBA hazard
Email: eglasser@wptv.com
Photographer: Dan Puente
Last Update: 9/29 8:32 pm
Blue Heron Bridge RIVIERA BEACH, FL -- One of the favorite local scuba spots for divers in Palm Beach County is the east side of the Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach, because it's easy enough for beginners, and teaming with rare wildlife and small wrecks from recent hurricanes.
But recently, work crews have been responding to reports of a potential hazard. Large chunks of concrete falling from the eastern flat portion of the bridge.
"We sent a crew Sunday to go check it out," says John Danielsen, a bridge engineer with the Florida Department of Transportation.
Danielsen says FDOT is aware of the crumbling concrete.
They work with a subcontractor to maintain the 60 year-old span.
The crew out at the bridge last week identified another spot of concern, and will be back out again, he says, this week.
"We're gonna check the whole bridge again. We're gonna remove that little spot to make sure it doesn't fall," said Danielsen.
From the divers' persepctive the danger is pretty clear. If a chunk of concrete falls on soemone's head it could knock a diver unconscious, or if large enough, even pin someone under the water.
"You're under the water breathing on scuba, that's not exactly the safest scenario," says Mark Kosarin, a dive instructor at the nearby Force-E dive shop.
"I've heard it from more than one diver that pieces of the bridge are actually coming down. Which is very sad," says Kosarin, "Because i'm not gonna bring my students under there now."
The bridge itself has visible sections where concrete has fallen away, and deep cracks where it looks like more could detach soon.
The DOT says it's moved-up its scheduled replacement of the entire bridge to next year.
Until then, divers, and for that matter drivers, may be comforted to know that state workers are aware of the cracking issues.
"We'll be on the bridge every month, every two months, whatever it takes to make that bridge safe," says Danielsen.
FDOT also says a full inspection of the bridge is normally scheduled once every two years, but given the situation, they have accelerated that to once every six months.
