Blogs Jul 1, 2013 at 11:56 am

The University Bridge Can Overheat, Will Be Getting Cooling Baths All Day

Anna Minard
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Comments

1
They didn't design the bridge for 100 degrees? Weird.
ScrawnyKayaker on July 1, 2013 at 12:07 PM Report this
2
Curious. What makes this drawbridge different in the heat than the Montlake or Fremont bridges?
yelahneb on July 1, 2013 at 12:18 PM Report this
3
@2 Curious indeed. I figured the University Bridge was just older or had a longer span than the others, but neither of those is true - it actually has a shorter span than the Fremont and Montlake bridges and they were all built around the same time. Hmm...
T on July 1, 2013 at 12:30 PM Report this
4
back home we had roads, especially blacktop, simply expand and breakupwards, creating walls of asphalt. Similarly, frost heave breaks shit all the time.
Chris Jury on July 1, 2013 at 12:32 PM Report this
5
By flushing, does that mean spraying down with water? Or is there an internal pipe cooling system?
Sparhawk2k on July 1, 2013 at 12:33 PM Report this
6
Good thing we're studying another bridge to cross the Ship Canal! Thanks City Council!
on July 1, 2013 at 12:34 PM Report this
7
It could simply be that that bring has some particular issues with expansion of bridge deck/joints/mechanism that have been observed with hot weather in the past few years. Good on them for being proactive.
Beetlecat on July 1, 2013 at 12:45 PM Report this
8
Frak --- *Bridge
Beetlecat on July 1, 2013 at 12:46 PM Report this
9
Flush? Just have Dave Matthews' bus drive over it a few times...
G g on July 1, 2013 at 1:07 PM Report this
10
Remember the bridge is sitting on a bunch of old wooden pilings. I suspect that the bridge abutments may have shifted just enough that the tolerances are too close to accommodate thermal expansion. Keeping the bridge cool by spraying water on it is a pretty simple and inexpensive solution but hasn't been a regular practice until recently.
restlessnative on July 1, 2013 at 1:14 PM Report this
11
@9 what an amazingly timely and relevant joke.

Seriously, barf.
The CHZA on July 1, 2013 at 1:38 PM Report this
12
@10 I'll buy that for a dollar! <3
ScrawnyKayaker on July 1, 2013 at 1:58 PM Report this
13
The next question being why they have to close the bridge. Cyclists (motor- and otherwise) might not want to ride through a spray, but given more typical Seattle weather, it's hard to believe that the bridge is unusable when wet...
ScrawnyKayaker on July 1, 2013 at 2:01 PM Report this
14
I, too, will be flushing once an hour today.
butterw on July 1, 2013 at 2:15 PM Report this
15
What a waste of money. If we let it fail the feds would give us a new one free.
fletc3her on July 1, 2013 at 2:44 PM Report this
16
the email announcement says they will be closing the motor vehicle lanes only during the "flush". sidewalks and the bike lanes will remain open.
slugbiker on July 1, 2013 at 2:46 PM Report this
17
They have a spray truck that is spraying the bridge. Got caught behind it on the 49 this morning (although we didn't know why the bridge was closed to traffic w/o opening the drawspan)
Gordon Werner on July 1, 2013 at 2:47 PM Report this
18
@10 I didn't realize it was a relatively new practice. I wonder if it could be related to that sinkhole that occurred in Eastlake a few years back.
T on July 1, 2013 at 3:10 PM Report this
19
THIS IS JUST AS BAD AS THE 99 TUNNEL &/OR THE COLUMBIA RIVER CROSSING! MY TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING FLUSHED! SO ANGRY!!!!
Max Solomon on July 1, 2013 at 4:40 PM Report this
20
The BNSF bridge over the canal in Ballard has pipes that do this on hot days. Go look. It'll be dripping water.
emor on July 1, 2013 at 4:48 PM Report this

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