Carbon River Fairfax Bridge - Closed

[MintJulep]

The NTSB report on the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse in Pittsburg made the remarkable assertation that "rust makes metal weaker".

Pittsburgh bridge collapse - Engineering Failures & Disasters

thread815-491466 NTSB to other bridge owners: "Rust makes metal weaker." https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/ntsb-fern-hollow-bridge-report-review-bridge-inspection-reports-nationwide/

www.eng-tips.com

It seems that the State of Washington has been conducting a peer review test of this assertation, and has independently confirmed that indeed rust does make metal weaker.

SR 165 Carbon River Fairfax Bridge Closure

The State Route 165 Carbon River Fairfax Bridge closed April 14, 2025, after inspections revealed new deterioration of steel supports on the 103-year-old structure.

www.flickr.com

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/key-bridge-to-mount-rainier-starting-to-buckle-closes-indefinitely/

 

[SWComposites]

Key bridge to Mount Rainier ‘starting to buckle,’ closes indefinitely

The closure will indefinitely pinch recreational access to Rainier, as two of the park’s precious few entrance points have been rendered inaccessible.

web.archive.org

 

[davidbeach]

That will take pressure off the understaffed park.

 

[waross]

It seems that the State of Washington has been conducting a peer review test of this assertation, and has independently confirmed that indeed rust does make metal weaker.

Oh my Gosh.
Have we been doing it wrong for all these years?

 

[TugboatEng]

That will take pressure off the understaffed park.

Maybe this will divert some funding and increase labor ability for infrastructure management.

 

[LittleInch]

The NTSB report on the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse in Pittsburg made the remarkable assertation that "rust makes metal weaker".

Pittsburgh bridge collapse - Engineering Failures & Disasters

thread815-491466 NTSB to other bridge owners: "Rust makes metal weaker." https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/ntsb-fern-hollow-bridge-report-review-bridge-inspection-reports-nationwide/

www.eng-tips.com

It seems that the State of Washington has been conducting a peer review test of this assertation, and has independently confirmed that indeed rust does make metal weaker.

SR 165 Carbon River Fairfax Bridge Closure

The State Route 165 Carbon River Fairfax Bridge closed April 14, 2025, after inspections revealed new deterioration of steel supports on the 103-year-old structure.

www.flickr.com

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/key-bridge-to-mount-rainier-starting-to-buckle-closes-indefinitely/

Like I said in that linked post, that's not really fair on the NTSB. What they really said was bridges designed to rust like Corten, can still corrode much more than anticipated and regular inspections need to be followed by repairs and maintenance. Inpatricular if water rand sal are allowed to gather in one place and not dry off you can get accelerated corrosion.