CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has lowered the weight limit on McClure Bridge, which spans the Cumberland River at Highway 48/13.
TDOT regional spokesperson Kathryn Schulte said the decision was made following a recent routine inspection of the bridge.
The restriction will remain in place temporarily until repair work can begin in March. TDOT says the steel work on the bridge needs to be repaired to sustain heavier loads.
A specific date has not been set, but Schulte said the repairs may not be completed until May.
TDOT plans a full replacement of the bridge in the next two to three years as part of a 3-mile widening project on Highway 13.
Schulte said the restriction will affect some tractor trailers, but not all. The weight limit is set at 21 tons and will primarily affect loaded tractor trailers.
During TDOT’s inspection, it was determined that multiple tractor trailers on the bridge from end to end would cause damage to the bridge, which prompted the restriction.
Associated Press reports from 2014 show that 64 of the state’s 19,721 bridges listed on the federal inventory of bridges that are deteriorating or at risk for collapse.
