Goshen Valley Road bridge among 77 poorly ranked in Northeast Tennessee

CHURCH HILL, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Goshen Valley Road bridge is among 77 structurally deficient, now more commonly referred to as “poorly ranked,” bridges in the region by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).

The list includes bridges in seven counties of Northeast Tennessee rated as poor and critical bridges. According to TDOT, the critical bridges are currently closed.

Poor-Rated-Bridges-TDOT-2024Download

TDOT spokesperson Mark Nagi told News Channel 11 that structurally deficient bridges like the Goshen Valley Road bridge are not unsafe to drive on, but that a part has been deemed to be in poor condition.

“The big thing to stress here is that TDOT will not allow any bridge, any roadway, whatever it may be to be open if we feel that it presents a danger to the motoring public,” Nagi said.

Amid concerns with the Goshen Valley Road bridge, people believe the county government has failed to maintain the bridge and fear there’s a safety risk.

Bill Killen, a county resident, shares these worries. He’s been watching what’s unfolded with the bridge after first learning about the bridge’s condition when consulting the Goshen Valley Volunteer Fire Department.

The fire department announced in March that its trucks would no longer be crossing the bridge due to the 10-ton weight limit and its structural condition.

“I’m really concerned,” Killen said. “Now, I’m no engineer, but I have extensive experience in reviewing plans and drawings for construction. What can they do to that bridge that’s 60 years old to curb or sustain the bridge for a period of time when it’s got a condition sufficiency rating of six out of a 100?”

News Channel 11 has reported on the most recent TDOT inventory and appraisal report for the county-owned bridge, where it received a sufficiency rating of six out of 100. Any bridge with a rating below 50 qualifies for a bridge replacement.

The county school system has also re-routed buses due to the weight limit of the bridge.

“There are some structural spans that need to be re-enforced,” Hawkins County Mayor Mark DeWitte said. “Some of the erosion needs to be painted over and sealed up.”

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Some say the county government has known about this issue with the bridge for more than a decade. TDOT maintenance documents show the bridge was in deep need of repair as early as 2011. The general comments from a document from June 2015 show the rating was reduced to poor condition due to corrosion advancing on bearing devices and beams with holes forming.

Hawkins County documents of Highway Department budgets from years after show minimal money spent on bridge construction. Specifically, the budget from fiscal year 2021, shows no money spent on bridge construction in fiscal years 2019 and 2020. The fiscal year budget for 2022 shows $89,800 was spent on bridge construction for fiscal year 2020.

Additionally, Road Committee meeting minutes from the summer of 2019 to 2022 do not mention the Goshen Valley Road bridge. News Channel 11 received minutes from the July 25 and December 10 meetings in 2019; January 9, May 21, July 8, October 23, and December 17 meetings in 2020; April 6, August 11, and November 4 meetings in 2021; and March 16, April 28, and June 24 meetings from 2022.

“Hawkins County government has a reputation for kicking the can down the road,” Killen said. “And I have seen that.”

The Highway Department does not have records of meetings between the county and TDOT from 2019 or 2021.

Current county mayor DeWitte and current county road superintendent Danny Jones will have been in office for two years in September.

A 2017 TDOT maintenance document shows a follow-up inspection was performed in 2014 due to the completion of a contract repair project.

County leaders are looking at an about 34 cents tax increase that includes a 10 cents portion dedicated to bridge and road repairs.

The county received a quote from engineers on a temporary fix for the bridge which would bring the weight limit up to 20 tons. DeWitte said this will allow for school buses to use the bridge again along with some fire trucks. These were two main concerns.

The quote indicates the repairs are expected to extend the lifespan of the bridge by 10 years. Plus, the repairs will cost about $1.5 million.

DeWitte said no movement can take place on the fix until county leaders approve next year’s budget.

He also said the county has put up additional signs ahead of the bridge warning motorists of the weight limit. TDOT has been asked to put up additional signs on both ends of Goshen Valley Road.

Killen believes more needs to be done.

“Once a tractor-trailer turns left onto Goshen Valley Road, there is no place for that individual to turn around without crossing that bridge,” Killen said. “And there’s no way that he can safely back up onto 11W.”

DeWitte said a turnaround will not be installed, but hopes that the signs will help with this issue.

The full county commission meets June 24 at 6 p.m. on the first floor of the county courthouse, when the budget, including the proposed tax increase, might be brought before commissioners for approval.

Members of the Budget Committee are revisiting the budget and proposed tax increase ahead of the meeting at 3 p.m. DeWitte said the committee will meet on the top floor of the courthouse because a crowd is expected.

Click here to see bridges TDOT has listed in the region as current and future projects.

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