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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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ACES11HIGH Rookie Author Honolulu Posts:33 Points:54,075 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Jul 21, 2012 3:35:41 PM Ignore ACES11HIGH Report Abuse Safety should be an issue..
bikerchicklette Champion Author Washington Posts:5,889 Points:1,296,845 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 21, 2012 12:11:53 PM Ignore bikerchicklette Report Abuse Sunofagun !!
TimLee Champion Author Chattanooga Posts:11,142 Points:2,041,065 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Jul 21, 2012 8:29:38 AM Ignore TimLee Report Abuse TDOT needs to do a better job of weeding out bridge contractors with unacceptable safety. In driving to Chattanooga one day a couple years back, I arrived at the site of where a TDOT bridge contractor lost control of scaffolding, dropped too low, and a worker was struck and killed by a truck just minutes before. Controlling cost with low bid is good, but NOT if you fail to weed out the incompetent unsafe companies.
Dodge_Me Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,214 Points:556,230 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 6:03:40 PM Ignore Dodge_Me Report Abuse There are always draw backs to speeding construction, that sucks for the familys
HawaiianGuy Champion Author Idaho Posts:9,528 Points:3,078,950 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 3:17:32 PM Ignore HawaiianGuy Report Abuse Success, but at what price?
milespergallon Champion Author Illinois Posts:9,744 Points:1,908,360 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 2:35:45 PM Ignore milespergallon Report Abuse Would still like to know what the comparative to other states doing the same amount of work. Is this statistic excessive or more like normal? Do not want to see any deaths but let's get the whole story before bringing down the proverbial hatchet
Holly123 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:3,202 Points:790,210 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 1:18:43 PM Ignore Holly123 Report Abuse Yesterday's news.
bell05 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,255 Points:1,875,860 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 1:08:14 PM Ignore bell05 Report Abuse Old news.
OldMan322 Champion Author Illinois Posts:5,155 Points:1,594,740 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 12:31:03 PM Ignore OldMan322 Report Abuse Where is OSHA in this
IMLURCH Champion Author Minnesota Posts:2,184 Points:1,103,180 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 12:29:53 PM Ignore IMLURCH Report Abuse Old Story
sparky808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:2,998 Points:597,760 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 12:17:18 PM Ignore sparky808 Report Abuse Thank you for posting.
crazycow2332 Champion Author Nashville Posts:1,217 Points:255,080 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 12:15:30 PM Ignore crazycow2332 Report Abuse ok
MrLuigi Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:4,773 Points:966,685 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 12:05:55 PM Ignore MrLuigi Report Abuse like I said yesterday to this now "OLD" article, way to much overspending on these projects for "poor" results in most cases
DeeMamma88 Veteran Author San Bernardino Posts:352 Points:282,855 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 12:05:16 PM Ignore DeeMamma88 Report Abuse Increasing my fear of driving/walking over bridges...
LaVonneK Champion Author Iowa Posts:2,945 Points:626,750 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 12:03:36 PM Ignore LaVonneK Report Abuse Wow.
naiiawah Champion Author Boise Posts:2,390 Points:689,850 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 12:02:54 PM Ignore naiiawah Report Abuse OK
vrossi46 Champion Author San Jose Posts:2,672 Points:804,920 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 12:02:41 PM Ignore vrossi46 Report Abuse interesting
RoadhogMA Champion Author Boston Posts:4,864 Points:1,026,325 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 12:01:44 PM Ignore RoadhogMA Report Abuse OK .
pachukdog1 Champion Author Pensacola Posts:1,747 Points:377,500 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 12:00:56 PM Ignore pachukdog1 Report Abuse of course
efwosu Sophomore Author Columbus Posts:236 Points:91,250 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:57:56 AM Ignore efwosu Report Abuse alrighty
toxigas Champion Author Oakland Posts:1,212 Points:406,840 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:57:37 AM Ignore toxigas Report Abuse My respect for people who do the tough jobs.
badspots Champion Author Houston Posts:2,079 Points:675,270 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:57:18 AM Ignore badspots Report Abuse Ok.
BWJM Champion Author KW Posts:1,113 Points:303,780 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:54:53 AM Ignore BWJM Report Abuse ok
mrinmoyd Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,095 Points:364,525 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:54:39 AM Ignore mrinmoyd Report Abuse ok
idigau22 Champion Author Washington Posts:23,411 Points:3,201,985 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:53:28 AM Ignore idigau22 Report Abuse The new Oakland Bay Bridge in California was built mostly by Chinese labor and Chinese construction materials! What could possibly go wrong???!!!
arcaneradio Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,527 Points:491,180 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:51:18 AM Ignore arcaneradio Report Abuse k
OaklandInvaders Champion Author San Jose Posts:2,346 Points:568,030 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:48:01 AM Ignore OaklandInvaders Report Abuse What were the causes of such unfortunate worker deaths? That's where safety procurements and policy should be addressed.
Galmar352 Champion Author San Antonio Posts:10,158 Points:1,882,625 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:47:46 AM Ignore Galmar352 Report Abuse My condolances - BUT NOT GAS PRICE RELATED!!!
humancry Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,618 Points:1,002,455 Joined:Nov 2006	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:47:33 AM Ignore humancry Report Abuse more new media b.s.
briinnc Champion Author North Carolina Posts:2,705 Points:834,820 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:45:33 AM Ignore briinnc Report Abuse OK?
firechief Champion Author New York Posts:3,441 Points:2,066,150 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:44:55 AM Ignore firechief Report Abuse ok
snappytom2 Champion Author Corpus Christi Posts:3,551 Points:274,770 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:44:24 AM Ignore snappytom2 Report Abuse Hmm.
ratboy1968 Champion Author Montreal Posts:2,617 Points:549,025 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:42:40 AM Ignore ratboy1968 Report Abuse ok
porotito Champion Author Houston Posts:2,150 Points:579,685 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:41:09 AM Ignore porotito Report Abuse MM....
3mta3 All-Star Author Michigan Posts:830 Points:1,003,365 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:39:44 AM Ignore 3mta3 Report Abuse Though one death is one to many, every job has its risks. Ultimately it is in the worker's hands to keep out of harm's way.
s6sputnik Champion Author Austin Posts:6,222 Points:1,308,130 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:39:42 AM Ignore s6sputnik Report Abuse That is sad!
RAJNY All-Star Author New York Posts:575 Points:431,395 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:39:16 AM Ignore RAJNY Report Abuse k
BBHybrid Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:6,469 Points:1,295,025 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:38:12 AM Ignore BBHybrid Report Abuse I wonder if this is a coincidence or hiring substandard people or using faulty construction methods...
hallows Champion Author St. Louis Posts:4,698 Points:2,804,620 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:37:17 AM Ignore hallows Report Abuse I agree, hibsaw!
NorthglennBill Champion Author Denver Posts:7,422 Points:1,471,945 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:37:08 AM Ignore NorthglennBill Report Abuse When you are on the top of somebodies list you seem to always end up on the bottom of somebody elses list.
alaskareed Champion Author Alaska Posts:1,585 Points:701,730 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:36:37 AM Ignore alaskareed Report Abuse not good
mightyace Champion Author Tennessee Posts:4,269 Points:845,055 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:36:23 AM Ignore mightyace Report Abuse While TDOT certain bears some responsibility for choosing the contractor, the contractor itself should get most of the heat.
rx7racerca Champion Author Calgary Posts:4,198 Points:1,112,965 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:34:24 AM Ignore rx7racerca Report Abuse Would need to know what, if any inquiry was held into the deaths, and what the findings were, but the number of deaths for one contractor and three bridge projects does seem high.
Feud Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,081 Points:306,265 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:32:31 AM Ignore Feud Report Abuse Safety first.
hibsaw Champion Author Mississippi Posts:8,042 Points:1,681,965 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:31:58 AM Ignore hibsaw Report Abuse That is some dangerous work. Safety MUST come first.
MustangRacing Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,843 Points:649,460 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:29:31 AM Ignore MustangRacing Report Abuse Safety is also in the hands of the worker.
CheckitoutGuy Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,311 Points:769,590 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:29:12 AM Ignore CheckitoutGuy Report Abuse Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm
pecos Champion Author Columbus Posts:7,725 Points:2,112,285 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:28:51 AM Ignore pecos Report Abuse Get er done Tennessee.
SierraFaith Sophomore Author Arkansas Posts:185 Points:51,885 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:28:12 AM Ignore SierraFaith Report Abuse Ok
NavyEOD Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:10,006 Points:2,021,150 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Jul 20, 2012 11:28:01 AM Ignore NavyEOD Report Abuse ok.