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SUNNY Temp: 59 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Friday, August 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend July 8, 2003 Bridge collapse raises questions By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune WIMER — Residents here want to know if a century-old covered bridge that collapsed Sunday will ever be rebuilt. "That’s the question everybody’s asking," said Wimer resident Paul Howell. "Are we going to lose the covered bridge?" Jackson County officials can’t give them an answer yet, but say they understand the importance of the bridge to the community. "We know the bridge is real precious to those people," said Mike Jewett, Jackson County’s legal counsel. Advertisement The wooden crossing, originally built in 1892, collapsed Sunday afternoon while 5-year-old twin Medford boys and their 56-year-old grandfather were walking across it. One of the twins, Mickey, was treated and released Sunday. His brother, Cleo, who suffered a broken leg, was listed in fair condition Monday at Providence Medical Center. Their grandfather, Billy "Mickey" Haynes remains in serious condition in the intensive care unit, after suffering head trauma and other injuries. Howell, a friend of Haynes, said the grandfather is in good spirits but suffered a shoulder injury and four broken ribs. While residents ponder the crossing’s fate, they also question who’s to blame for the bridge’s collapse. "This bridge — they’ve been talking about restoring it for years," said Howell. "And they just run out of time." Howell said a beam that was part of the one of the main trusses had bowed out about six inches, compromising its structural integrity. Jewett said a thorough inspection of the bridge was conducted two years ago by Oregon Bridge Engineering Company. "They examined the bridge and concluded it needed work and one of the trusses was twisted," he said. At the time, the engineering company recommended the load limit on the bridge be lowered from 9 tons to 4 tons, but the county opted to err on the safe side, dropping the limit to 3 tons, he said. The engineering company, in its report to the county, said the bridge would have to be closed to vehicles in four to eight years if it wasn’t rebuilt. The exact reason for the bridge’s collapse isn’t known, although Jewett said, "When these bridges fail, you tend to look at the truss." A full investigation and salvage effort will be conducted in the next two weeks to determine the cause. Jewett said the county has heard reports of vehicles exceeding the weight limit on the bridge, which could have contributed to its collapse. "A pickup with a load of gravel would have been over the limit," he said. At this point it would be difficult to prove, without an eyewitness, that a specific overweight vehicle compromised the bridge’s structural integrity, he said. Although the potential for a lawsuit exists, Jewett said, "The main concern is for the folks that are hurt ... . We wish them well. We hope they fully recover." While the county relies primarily on self-insurance, Jewett said the engineering company that inspected the bridge probably has some kind of insurance that could cover this catastrophe. He wouldn’t speculate where the liability might fall, except to say, "We followed their (the engineering firm’s) recommendation, but the bridge is in the creek." The county is aware that Wimer residents want their covered bridge rebuilt, but Jewett said it is premature to say whether the county can acquire the funding needed. Ken Norton, federal aid specialist for the Oregon Department of Transportation, said he will assess options available for obtaining the funding needed to rebuild the bridge. Norton, who looked at the damage Monday, said there is discretionary funding from the federal government that might be available, but said other government entities, including the county, might have to provide funding as well. The county was set to seek bids in September to rebuild the bridge, using $660,000 in federal money to restore the structure to its full 10-ton limit. Norton said he wasn’t sure what the status of those funds would be since the bridge is no longer standing. County Commissioner Jack Walker said he wouldn’t speculate what the county could have done to prevent the collapse, but said officials would focus on finding out why it happened. "It’s very unfortunate and we need to find out why," he said. He said it was too early to discuss rebuilding the bridge. "I don’t think we should even be talking about it," he said "The necessity of it even being there has to be looked at first." Bev Nolan, who works at the Wimer Market, said she spent a sleepless night Sunday, remembering the cries of the twins. Nolan said it is possible that overweight vehicles have traveled over the weakened structure. "People don’t pay attention to those signs," she said. "People still came bombing across that bridge." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times