Emergency Temporary Closure of the Interstate 40 Hernando DeSoto Bridge Over the Mississippi River Between Arkansas and Tennessee
| Published date | 16 July 2021 |
| Citation | 86 FR 37784 |
| Record Number | 2021-15151 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Federal Highway Administration,Transportation Department |
Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 134 (Friday, July 16, 2021)
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 134 (Friday, July 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37784-37785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15151]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[Docket No. FHWA-2021-0007]
Emergency Temporary Closure of the Interstate 40 Hernando DeSoto
Bridge Over the Mississippi River Between Arkansas and Tennessee
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) and the
Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) closed the I-40 Hernando
DeSoto Bridge (I-40 Bridge) over the Mississippi River between Arkansas
and Tennessee on May 11, 2021, for safety considerations when a
mechanical fracture was discovered within the elements of a steel box
beam. FHWA is providing notice that ARDOT and TDOT are continuing the
temporary closure of the I-40 Bridge for an indefinite period of time.
FHWA has approved a request by the Arkansas and the Tennessee Divisions
of the FHWA for an emergency deletion of a segment of I-40 between the
I-55 Split (Exit 279B) in West Memphis, Arkansas, and the I-240
Interchange (Exit 1E) in Memphis, Tennessee, from the National Network
in accordance with applicable regulations due to the safety
considerations discussed in this notice. FHWA is requesting comments
from the public on the alternate routes selected by TDOT and ARDOT due
to the closure.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 16, 2021.
ADDRESSES: To ensure that you do not duplicate your docket submissions,
please submit them by only one of the following means:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, Washington, DC
20590-0001.
Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9:00 a.m.
and 5:00 p.m. ET, except Federal holidays.
Fax: (202) 493-2251
Instructions: You must include the agency name and docket number
[FHWA-2021-0007] at the beginning of your comments. All comments
received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov,
including any personal information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Berg, Truck Size and Weight Team,
Office of Operations, (202) 740-4602, [email protected], or William
Winne, Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-0791,
[email protected], Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590; Vivien N. Hoang, FHWA Division
Administrator, Arkansas Division, (501) 324-6436, [email protected],
or Pamela Kordenbrock, FHWA Division Administrator, Tennessee Division,
(615) 781-5770, [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access and Filing
This document and all comments received may be viewed online
through the Federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov.
The website is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. An
electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded by accessing
the Office of the Federal Register's website at www.federalregister.gov
and the Government Publishing Office's website at www.govinfo.gov.
Background
The ARDOT and TDOT closed the I-40 Bridge over the Mississippi
River between Arkansas and Tennessee on May 11, 2021, for safety
considerations. During a routine inspection of the I-40 Bridge by
ARDOT, a mechanical fracture was discovered within the elements of a
steel box beam. Local law enforcement agencies were immediately
notified to shut down the bridge to all traffic. FHWA is providing
notice that ARDOT and TDOT are continuing the temporary closure of the
I-40 Bridge for an indefinite period of time.
FHWA is responsible for enforcing the Federal regulations
applicable to the National Network of highways that can safely and
efficiently accommodate the large vehicles authorized by provisions of
the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, Public Law 97-424 as
amended, designated in accordance with 23 CFR part 658 (Truck Size and
Weight, Route Designations--Length, Width and Weight Limitations) and
listed in Appendix A to Part 658. Under 23 CFR 658.11 (Additions,
deletions, exceptions, and restrictions), FHWA may approve deletions
of, or use restrictions on, the Interstate system or other National
Network route based upon specified justification criteria in 23 CFR
658.11(d)(2). FHWA is authorized to delete any route from the National
Network on an emergency basis based on safety considerations pursuant
to section 658.11(e), which also requires publishing this notice in the
Federal Register for comment.
The closure of the I-40 Bridge has affected traffic throughout
western Tennessee, the Memphis metropolitan area, and eastern Arkansas.
The I-40 Bridge and the I-55 Memphis-Arkansas Bridge (I-55 Bridge) are
the only two Mississippi River crossings in the Memphis area. The
additional traffic on I-55 due to the I-40 Bridge closure has increased
delays in crossing the river.
[[Page 37785]]
Based on traffic volume data provided by ARDOT and TDOT, the closed I-
40 Bridge carried an Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) count of over
40,000 vehicles, and trucks comprised 30 percent of that volume. The I-
55 Bridge had an AADT count of over 40,000 vehicles, with 35 percent of
the volume comprised of trucks. The TDOT's 2018 Statewide Multimodal
Freight Plan \1\ identified the I-55 river crossing as one of the top
freight bottlenecks, based on the route meeting the condition that the
segment had a level of service of F with a truck volume of greater than
5,000 trucks per day, and truck travel speeds averaging less than 45
mph.
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\1\ Tennessee Statewide Multimodal Freight Plan is available at
www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tdot/freight-and-logistics/TDOT_FreightPlan_AMENDED_04022019.pdf.
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Arkansas and Tennessee State transportation officials have
implemented official detours via the Interstate network. Traffic on I-
40 eastbound from West Memphis, Arkansas, into Memphis, Tennessee, is
being rerouted to I-55 south to cross the I-55 Bridge. Motorists may
then use I-240 to connect to I-40 eastbound in Tennessee. Traffic on I-
40 westbound from Memphis, Tennessee, into West Memphis, Arkansas, is
detoured to I-240, where traffic may connect to I-55 northbound to
cross the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge and merge back into I-40 westbound.
Some ramps in the area are also closed. The TDOT closed the ramps
accessing I-40 westbound from State Route 3 (SR 3)/Danny Thomas
Boulevard southbound and northbound, Riverside Drive, Front Street,
Madison Avenue, and I-240 northbound. In addition, I-40 westbound is
closed to traffic at the split with I-240 southbound and the ramps to
SR 3/Danny Thomas Boulevard southbound, Mound City Road and Martin
Luther King Jr. Drive. The ARDOT closed the ramps accessing I-40
eastbound from Mound City Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. In
addition, I-40 eastbound is closed at the split with I-55 southbound
and there is a lane closure in the area. The City of Memphis retimed
the traffic signals to accommodate new traffic patterns and distributed
maps through media on how to travel in and around downtown Memphis. In
addition, TDOT is addressing the capacity of the I-55 and Crump
Interchange by performing signing and striping changes to improve
operations for both northbound and southbound traffic near the I-55
bridge. These improvements include ramp closures, enhanced striping to
address friction points, and signage restricting movements that impact
operations.
The TDOT and ARDOT have coordinated plans with local governments on
both sides of the Mississippi River. The TDOT and ARDOT met with local
transportation officials and police agencies immediately after the
closure to prepare for the anticipated overflow of traffic from the
official detour route on the Interstates to the local network. Such
coordination is continuing with the City of Memphis counterparts in
traffic, operations, and emergency management to address any issues on
diverted traffic, incidents, detours, and delay notices as changes are
being made to improve travel in the area. Police agencies in the region
are also assisting.
The TDOT SmartWay Traffic Management System provides access to
closed circuit television and dynamic message signs (DMS) on both sides
of the Mississippi River to allow real-time monitoring of traffic and
incidents. Daily updates are being posted on TDOT's website for the I-
40 closure. Traffic conditions on the I-55 Memphis-Arkansas Bridge can
also be heard on TDOT's 511 system. The TDOT placed portable message
signs on I-40 west of the Tennessee River and east of Jackson,
Tennessee, advising of the bridge closure. Estimated travel time to E.
H. Crump Boulevard is displayed on the I-40 DMS west of the I-40/I-55
Interchange in West Memphis, Arkansas. Navigation service providers
were advised of the bridge closure so that digital maps correctly
reflect the current situation.
The ARDOT is also providing closed circuit television, portable
changeable message signs (CMS), and static DMS on the Arkansas side of
the river. Portable CMS were placed along I-55, as far as the Missouri
State line and along I-40. DMS were posted as far away as Fort Smith,
Texarkana, and Little Rock to advise intrastate traffic of the bridge
closure. The ARDOT public facing website, iDriveArkansas, has incident
and advisory information concerning the closure. Live streaming video
is available to the public and the ARDOT Traffic Management Center,
which it actively monitors and provides assistance to first responders.
Portable camera trailers and temporary cameras were deployed nearby
and, on the structure, to assist with bridge monitoring. Traffic signal
timing was reviewed for Marion and West Memphis.
To assist in facilitating Interstate commerce, ARDOT and TDOT are
coordinating with local trucking associations to minimize freight
traffic disruptions. The TDOT is working with State departments of
transportation in Mississippi and Missouri along with the trucking
industry to identify possible detour routes for long haul commercial
motor vehicle (CMV) drivers to allow them to divert to other
Mississippi River crossings and avoid the I-55 Bridge. By partnering
with a smart mobility CMV fleet service, TDOT has arranged for detour
information to be shared directly with CMV drivers through in-cab
devices.
Overweight permitted loads in excess of 180,000 lbs. are being
routed around the I-55 Bridge on alternate routes. Eastbound loads in
excess of 12'6'' in width are being rerouted as well. CMVs of the
dimensions and configurations described in 23 CFR 658.13 and 658.15
which serve the affected area must use the following alternate routes:
For vehicles with a height of 13'7'' to 15'9'': Eastbound I-55
travel must follow E. H. Crump Boulevard to Florida Street to South
Parkway to I-240. Vehicles headed westbound must take I-240 Exit 28 to
South Parkway to Florida Street to E. H. Crump Boulevard to I-55.
For vehicles with a height of 15'10'' and up: Eastbound I-55 travel
must follow E. H. Crump Boulevard to Florida Street to Kansas Street/
New Horn Lake Road to US-61. Vehicles headed westbound must take SR-175
to US-61 to New Horn Lake Road/Kansas Street to Florida Street to E. H.
Crump Boulevard to I-55.
Note: Any load over 15'6'' will have a survey that must be reviewed
for accuracy. Vehicles servicing the businesses bordering the impacted
area are still able to do so by also using the alternate routes
described above and local signage to circulate around the restricted
area.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 127 and 315; 49 U.S.C. 31111, 31112, and
31114; 23 CFR part 658.
Issued in Washington, DC, on July 12, 2021.
Stephanie Pollack,
Acting Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021-15151 Filed 7-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
