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Bridge deaths overshadow TDOT's success

GasBuddy Blog -- Not long ago we highlighted one of the more progressive approaches to highway projects when we focused on 'Smart-Fix 40', a model for accelerated construction in urban areas that TDOT completed in Knoxville, shaving nearly three years off the project had it been implemented using traditional construction methods.

...And now, we're learning from CNBC that Tennessee ranks fourth best in America in the category of "Transportation and Infrastructure" and is the only state topping that list that has no transportation debt. Nada.

But, is TDOT also skimping on safety? A community alliance called 'Bridges to Justice' says yes, and that's why four construction workers have died in the last 18 months while working on three bridge...

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Submitted Jul 19, 2012 By: PD

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BeaconLite Champion Author Ottawa Posts:2,075 Points:395,980 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 10:07:47 AM Ignore BeaconLite Report Abuse I wonder what the Safety Board is doing about that...
rippinusoff Champion Author Lexington Posts:7,538 Points:1,514,500 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 10:05:58 AM Ignore rippinusoff Report Abuse sad
ted4636 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:3,624 Points:1,664,385 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 10:05:31 AM Ignore ted4636 Report Abuse hgutjfkfncvbcvdgdyriglhlhkhiuyju
CDMAuto Champion Author Connecticut Posts:3,927 Points:780,580 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 10:04:50 AM Ignore CDMAuto Report Abuse Cutting corners usually cost more money in the long run.....
mil2008 All-Star Author San Jose Posts:545 Points:1,292,570 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 10:02:51 AM Ignore mil2008 Report Abuse Well
JimL1 Champion Author Phoenix Posts:8,314 Points:1,258,495 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 10:00:39 AM Ignore JimL1 Report Abuse Is there any common thread between the three accidents, other than people died in all three? What other accidents have happened, and was there any negligence involved in any of them?
dave1745 Champion Author Gary Posts:1,263 Points:761,920 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 10:00:31 AM Ignore dave1745 Report Abuse hmm
bbthegun Champion Author San Diego Posts:6,028 Points:1,703,865 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:59:59 AM Ignore bbthegun Report Abuse Speed in construction usually means safety is sacrificed and no workers life is worth that.
Gas_Buzzer Champion Author South Carolina Posts:14,274 Points:2,615,240 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:59:35 AM Ignore Gas_Buzzer Report Abuse Yada yada yada
caddilac Champion Author Ontario Posts:16,749 Points:2,166,430 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:58:30 AM Ignore caddilac Report Abuse OK, but what does the FULL article mean by "& amp" ??????? "But, is TDOT also skimping on safety? A community alliance called 'Bridges to Justice' says yes, and that's why four construction workers have died in the last 18 months while working on three bridge..." That statement is misleading since it is ONE CONSTRUCTION company, Britton Bridge, LLC, that is having the accidents. Obviously the state must have adequate safety regulations since other construction companies aren't reported in the FULL article as having safety issues. That one company, Britton Bridge, LLC, should be held accountable for the safety of their workers not the state. I hate misleading statements in news articles, and GasBuddy shouldn't spread misleading news articles. Let's have some responsibility for TRUTH IN REPORTING, and misleading statements are NOT truth in reporting. [Edited by: caddilac at 7/20/2012 11:00:37 AM EST]
stevekr Champion Author Sacramento Posts:2,381 Points:696,240 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:58:26 AM Ignore stevekr Report Abuse Drill Here! Drill Now! Pay Less!
frugalking Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:1,067 Points:218,445 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:57:03 AM Ignore frugalking Report Abuse There is no use trying to be cheap with worker safety. Eventually...you will get stuck with workers comp claims and and increases in workers comp insurance premiums...so....you might as well make safety a priority to begin with.
AriesMMD Champion Author Sacramento Posts:1,571 Points:436,465 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:57:03 AM Ignore AriesMMD Report Abuse At least the problem is being addressed
Lizzylou Champion Author Stockton Posts:8,818 Points:2,357,285 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:54:39 AM Ignore Lizzylou Report Abuse OLD NEWS
radiorumor Champion Author Texas Posts:2,946 Points:780,565 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:53:35 AM Ignore radiorumor Report Abuse Cutting corners can cost money
kosciak Champion Author Hartford Posts:1,106 Points:554,525 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:51:34 AM Ignore kosciak Report Abuse Old news
ramgas Champion Author Texas Posts:2,250 Points:1,322,955 Joined:Jan 2005	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:50:58 AM Ignore ramgas Report Abuse Not sure about this...
JimL1 Champion Author Phoenix Posts:8,314 Points:1,258,495 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:49:56 AM Ignore JimL1 Report Abuse Nothing in the article indicates what the safety problems, if any, might be. Let the state do a safety audit and see if there is anything that is common to the four deaths, then take appropriate action.
nascar1411 Champion Author Idaho Posts:2,028 Points:689,040 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:49:49 AM Ignore nascar1411 Report Abuse ok
scrossi Champion Author Indiana Posts:4,019 Points:1,075,215 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:45:59 AM Ignore scrossi Report Abuse So true dopster.
rosyLI Champion Author Long Island Posts:5,775 Points:1,093,305 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:45:37 AM Ignore rosyLI Report Abuse Inept government.
slvrdo_dsprdo Champion Author Nashville Posts:4,788 Points:928,265 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:44:09 AM Ignore slvrdo_dsprdo Report Abuse "But, is TDOT also skimping on safety?" "Each of those state projects was handed to the same contractor, Britton Bridge, LLC" Sounds like it's one contractor that perhaps we should not use again until they clean up their act.
bowler360 Champion Author Illinois Posts:2,105 Points:526,275 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:43:55 AM Ignore bowler360 Report Abuse yesterday's news.
freedomsailor Champion Author Naples Posts:2,264 Points:437,395 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:43:30 AM Ignore freedomsailor Report Abuse Dangerous business.
StrangeLuv Champion Author Kansas City Posts:3,815 Points:925,925 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:43:30 AM Ignore StrangeLuv Report Abuse Noted.
q2 Champion Author Alberta Posts:2,169 Points:406,070 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:42:39 AM Ignore q2 Report Abuse ok
bodu All-Star Author Vancouver Posts:930 Points:286,215 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:41:22 AM Ignore bodu Report Abuse "Construction is a dangerous business. That's why few women choose to do it." I doubt it. [Edited by: bodu at 7/20/2012 10:41:13 AM EST]
Donliberty Champion Author New York Posts:1,804 Points:680,740 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:41:10 AM Ignore Donliberty Report Abuse ok
papagee55 Sophomore Author South Carolina Posts:202 Points:46,670 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:39:34 AM Ignore papagee55 Report Abuse o.k.
MJIOWA Champion Author Iowa Posts:4,959 Points:1,104,670 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:38:50 AM Ignore MJIOWA Report Abuse ok
BlueVanGroup Champion Author Colorado Posts:7,341 Points:1,555,120 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:38:18 AM Ignore BlueVanGroup Report Abuse Construction is a dangerous business. That's why few women choose to do it.
MTPokts Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:2,280 Points:787,390 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:35:55 AM Ignore MTPokts Report Abuse You don't need an entire department to have safety standards.
Diesel_Ram Champion Author Dallas Posts:6,634 Points:1,545,125 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:34:26 AM Ignore Diesel_Ram Report Abuse Be interesting to see how this plays out.
Car54BC08 Champion Author British Columbia Posts:4,389 Points:1,537,065 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:32:23 AM Ignore Car54BC08 Report Abuse Construction is a risky business to be in. If you wanted to make big bucks with no liability or responsibility then become a politician.
vizilo Champion Author British Columbia Posts:5,729 Points:2,590,650 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:31:58 AM Ignore vizilo Report Abuse Interesting but what's it got to do with gas prices?
dopster Champion Author Toledo Posts:7,437 Points:2,318,975 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:29:29 AM Ignore dopster Report Abuse Workers be d*mned, we're saving money!
Amanstrom Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:1,858 Points:558,475 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:29:19 AM Ignore Amanstrom Report Abuse Interesting
tauro514 Champion Author Connecticut Posts:3,260 Points:1,827,140 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:29:02 AM Ignore tauro514 Report Abuse safety first.
PhilMils Champion Author Virginia Posts:6,318 Points:1,190,230 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:25:26 AM Ignore PhilMils Report Abuse The work had many other problems, including quality and actual value of the projects. This has nothing to do with fuel prices. Why was this blog entry ever even cribbed?
BudsterMO Champion Author Kansas City Posts:3,845 Points:730,655 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:24:40 AM Ignore BudsterMO Report Abuse It appears to be too much emphasis on production and not enough emphasis on safety.
mackconsult Champion Author Portland Posts:5,369 Points:868,185 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:23:27 AM Ignore mackconsult Report Abuse old news
kasha1WI Rookie Author Wisconsin Posts:12 Points:25,115 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:22:37 AM Ignore kasha1WI Report Abuse GOP sucks
braves89 Champion Author Chicago Posts:7,783 Points:1,657,210 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:21:30 AM Ignore braves89 Report Abuse ok
BobCH Veteran Author Durham Posts:254 Points:396,635 Joined:Aug 2010	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:20:47 AM Ignore BobCH Report Abuse It's impossible to know from the article who -- if anyone -- is at fault. Hopefully the local authorities and the contractor have more information. I would want to know whether there was a repeated cause of the accidents or an underlying factor that led to different accidents. Is it the same crew working all three bridges or the same supervisors? Are there rises in other, nonfatal accidents over the expected norm? Is it something about the bridge design or the highway design? Are these, possibly, just a horrible run of bad luck? How many bridge construction deaths do we expect in a year?
bpj13 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:3,405 Points:900,950 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:20:45 AM Ignore bpj13 Report Abuse Ok
regasaz Champion Author Phoenix Posts:5,779 Points:1,300,035 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:20:45 AM Ignore regasaz Report Abuse Same comment as yesterday when article was first posted.
HankJ Champion Author Montgomery Posts:13,089 Points:2,401,380 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:20:36 AM Ignore HankJ Report Abuse ok
flyfast Champion Author Kansas City Posts:9,386 Points:1,852,720 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:18:16 AM Ignore flyfast Report Abuse ok
kulwicki7 All-Star Author Virginia Posts:638 Points:269,295 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:17:41 AM Ignore kulwicki7 Report Abuse ok
indyjim Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:10,263 Points:2,346,155 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:16:36 AM Ignore indyjim Report Abuse Safety should be the same throughou all the states.
repeater1 Champion Author Topeka Posts:8,437 Points:2,392,525 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 9:15:07 AM Ignore repeater1 Report Abuse It will be interesting to look at this over a longer period of time to see if the preliminary results hold up.