by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Following a fatal accident last week on the Mathews Bridge, City Council member Lake Ray said it’s time for the Florida Department of Transportation to make some much needed changes on the 50-year-old structure.
Ray said the bridge’s grating, which was replaced in 1999, is “a hazard.”
According to the the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, 93 accidents have been reported on the bridge since the first of the year. Over 300 were reported in 2003.
“This is a very serious problem,” said Ray, an engineer. “It’s unacceptable for the bridge to remain the way it is. The DOT needs to take responsibility and do something about it.”
Ray, who also sits on the Metropolitan Planning Organization, said concerns regarding the safety of the grating have been building since it was installed five years ago.
In 2000, the Council passed a resolution urging the FDOT to investigate the new grating and its role in the number bridge accidents.
“What’s happened,” he said, “is that they keep doing studies to determine the slide and skid ratios on the bridge. That’s not where the problem is.
“The problem is that ever since the grates were replaced, they have never been correctly aligned.”
Due to that misalignment, Ray said it’s possible for any of the 75,000 vehicles that travel the bridge daily to cause an accident.
“I’ve personally observed the panels and it’s obvious that they don’t line up,” he said. “That needs to be changed because it’s not safe.”
FDOT spokesperson Mike Goldman, who spoke with Ray early Friday, said the State has been researching ways to improve the bridge for months.
“We know it’s a problem,” said Goldman. “We are definitely looking at all of the options, but we don’t want to rush in and do something that might not be effective.
“No matter what we decide to do, this is going to be a very expensive project, somewhere in the neighborhood of $10-$12 million.”
Before any work starts, Goldman said the FDOT would review bridge accident reports and get a clear understanding of what caused them.
“We need to be clear,” said Goldman. “This is a very complex issue and there isn’t going to be a simple solution. We’re going to carefully consider every option before we do anything on the bridge.”
“Any work we do is going to be considered a major project and there will be obvious traffic impacts that include lane closings and detours.”
Traffic problems or not, Goldman said some improvements will be made. However, he declined to speculate on a project start date or if the Super Bowl would fast track those efforts.
“We need a thorough analysis,” he said. “But in the meantime, people should feel safe on the bridge. As long as they stay within the posted speeds and are mindful of their lanes, there should be no problems.
“Remember, when you travel on grated surface it’s a different ride.”