Details are still coming in but here's what I understand so far:
On the I-69 S to I-465 S ramp, where it passes under I-465, a propane tanker has exploded directly under the bridge sending flames as high as 200-300 feet in the air. Both highways are currently shut down and it is unknown whether there is structural damage to the bridge yet.
I haven't been able to verify it yet but I just heard that I-465 is shut down from 56th St. on the east side to Meridian St. on the north side.
it's true. I've been watching it since it came on as breaking news. It's not directly under the bridges, but close enough.
http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=11364982
The truck struck the bridge supports and exploded. The bridge was totally engulfed in flames that indeed rose up to 250 - 300 feet into the air. The fuel tanks on the tractor subsequently exploded as well. INDOT engineers currently on scene to access the structural damage, if any, to the bridge. Should it be necessary to close it down, life will be hell on earth for a lot of people until it is fixed.
Amazingly, no one was killed and they are reporting 5 injuries, one of them the truck driver who was rescued by two gentlemen who dragged him out through the broken windshield while the tractor was burning. (On camera interviews with both at WTHR). Apparently the tanker came loose from the tractor at some point, which is why you see it out from underneath the bridges. . .
My wife said she was outside smoking and saw this huge tower of flames and felt the explosion. She said the flame went higher than the adjacent cell tower, which it engulfed and burned as well. She said it just mushroomed and the explosion shook the ground to the point that it set off car alarms. She was quickly joined outside by a huge crowd of colleagues and they spent more than a few anxious moments wondering what the hell had happened. . . :spooked:
I-69 southbound is closed at exit 22 (State Road 67-Madison County). Traffic will be diverted southbound on S.R. 67 to S.R. 9 to I-70. All southbound I-69 entrance ramps south of that location are closed.
Here's a picture of it that someone snapped
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr111/hlovett_2008/tankerexplode102209.jpg)
I just heard that. It's going to get busy on 9 to 70. I guess I should call my daughter and tell her to keep the kids in the house since traffic will be heavier than normal. She lives right on 9 near Warrington/Wilkinson.
Quote from: pariann on October 22, 2009, 12:59:31 PM
I just heard that. It's going to get busy on 9 to 70. I guess I should call my daughter and tell her to keep the kids in the house since traffic will be heavier than normal. She lives right on 9 near Warrington/Wilkinson.
I have some very good friends that live right across the street from the park in Wilkinson! :smile:
Quote
State Police Sgt. Anthony Emery said a pillar holding up the east side of the overpass was "blown out" and knocked on its side. Also, two steel girders on the west side of that overpass also sustained damage.
"We're not talking hours, we're talking weeks" for repairs, Emery said.
That is dreaded news for any commuters with destinations on the Northeastside, Fishers, Noblesville and points north toward Anderson and Muncie.
http://www.indystar.com/article/20091022/NEWS/91022016/Crews+fight+tanker+fire+at+I-69++I-465 (http://www.indystar.com/article/20091022/NEWS/91022016/Crews+fight+tanker+fire+at+I-69++I-465)
Looks like that is going to be a long term situation now! :spooked: :spooked: :spooked:
Quote from: Palehorse on October 22, 2009, 12:48:54 PM
Here's a picture of it that someone snapped
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr111/hlovett_2008/tankerexplode102209.jpg)
It'd be hard to believe that there isn't any dmage to that bridge.
There is. . . it is going to be closed for weeks to come! :yes: :spooked:
How great is it for me that I don't have any reason to go to Indy? I feel for all those that are going to be inconvenienced.
Quote from: Palehorse on October 22, 2009, 01:15:32 PM
There is. . . it is going to be closed for weeks to come! :yes: :spooked:
I think that's probably an agressive estimate as well. Do you remember the tanker truck that burned on the I-74 bridge east of Bloomington, IL (http://www.pantagraph.com/news/article_aa9e0104-f941-5e04-8be3-38d68458da06.html) a couple of years ago? The accident happened on July 7, 2007 and it was July 26th before they were able to re-route one westbound lane over the eastbound side of the bridge. The westbound bridge wasn't open again until December 1st!
Not sure exactly which ramps will be closed down, but at minimum I'd say SB69 to SB465 is toasted. It may also be NB465 toNB69 as well, which means that 82nd street will be 10 times worse than it is at Christmas time! :mad: :icon_evil: :spooked:
IF you travel that way and have to take NB/SB 465/69 ramps you're in for a few Maalox months! :rant:
Quote from: Exterminator on October 22, 2009, 01:26:25 PM
I think that's probably an agressive estimate as well. Do you remember the tanker truck that burned on the I-74 bridge east of Bloomington, IL (http://www.pantagraph.com/news/article_aa9e0104-f941-5e04-8be3-38d68458da06.html) a couple of years ago? The accident happened on July 7, 2007 and it was July 26th before they were able to re-route one westbound lane over the eastbound side of the bridge. The westbound bridge wasn't open again until December 1st!
Yup! :yes: I'm betting it won't be until well after the holidays, early next year at best. Going to Castleton Square Mall is going to really suck this year! :spooked: :spooked: :spooked:
Hmmmmm...........Uh, "driver error"?
Has not made CNN yet. Guess if the driver and a couple of adjacent cars had been turned into crispy critters it'd be "breaking news" with them! :rolleyes:
One the busiest exchanges in the state, if not
the busiest. I am surprised it hasn't happened before this!
Quote from: followsthewolf on October 22, 2009, 01:36:57 PM
Hmmmmm...........Uh, "driver error"?
Probably, but there has been a lot of construction within that interchange over the summer. I heard an initial report from the Fire Marshall wherein he stated, ". . .the truck struck debris from construction and that debris insulted the tanker, touching off the explosion. . ."
I watched a little bit of the coverage while we were eating in the Wing-On but they didn't have the TV up very loud so didn't catch much of what was going on since we were on the far side at the rear.
Quote from: Palehorse on October 22, 2009, 01:40:20 PM
Has not made CNN yet. Guess if the driver and a couple of adjacent cars had been turned into crispy critters it'd be "breaking news" with them! :rolleyes:
One the busiest exchanges in the state, if not the busiest. I am surprised it hasn't happened before this!
Probably, but there has been a lot of construction within that interchange over the summer. I heard an initial report from the Fire Marshall wherein he stated, ". . .the truck struck debris from construction and that debris insulted the tanker, touching off the explosion. . ."
Wow. Musta been a heck of an insult ........ maybe a crack about somebody's mama?
ROFL!!!!!!
I 69 is like a ghost road right now up here in the north country! Kind of nice not hearing the whine of steel belted radials in the background! :biggrin:
I wonder how long they are going to keep 69 southbound closed??? My wife may have a hard time getting to work tomorrow. . . :spooked:
Not sure how it will affect my son-in-law. He works at Homer Labs and I think he uses the Fisher's exit.
Quote from: me on October 22, 2009, 02:59:33 PM
Not sure how it will affect my son-in-law. He works at Homer Labs and I think he uses the Fisher's exit.
Right now SB I69 is shut down at exit 22. I don't know how long that will be either. I suppose they'll keep it shut until the engineers are done with their structural review of the damage, and the clean up crews get finished. At a minimum.
Once that's done they'll reopen everything except the damaged ramps. Those will be closed until next year I am thinking. . .
Traffic will be backed up at 82nd street with folks getting off there to jump onto the shadeland ramp and hit SB 465 that way. Same with Shadeland northboud - backed up from people getting off NB465 to jump onto NB I 69. That area of Castleton is already severely congested with the mall just west of that intersection. Imagine what it is going to be like on a daily basis until next year! :spooked:
I would imagine the fire was hot enough to pop the concrete and weaken the steel beams. I know I wouldn't want to cross a bridge heavy with traffic after something like. :no:
Quote from: me on October 22, 2009, 03:15:00 PM
I would imagine the fire was hot enough to pop the concrete and weaken the steel beams. I know I wouldn't want to cross a bridge heavy with traffic after something like. :no:
Yup. And if they don't get busy and get that replacement steel into place, it'll be too cold to pour concrete without incurring a major expense in heating it so it will cure properly! :spooked:
150,000 cars a day use that ramp. . . :yes:
Quote from: Palehorse on October 22, 2009, 03:21:09 PM
Yup. And if they don't get busy and get that replacement steel into place, it'll be too cold to pour concrete without incurring a major expense in heating it so it will cure properly! :spooked:
150,000 cars a day use that ramp. . . :yes:
Yep, there will be some Ironworkers bustin' their humps to get it done not to mention some other trades.
Quote from: me on October 22, 2009, 03:24:45 PM
Yep, there will be some Ironworkers bustin' their humps to get it done not to mention some other trades.
They're going to have to have the new steel made first. . . My guess is somebody else isn't getting their order on time because it is going to be used to fill this order! :biggrin:
Quote from: Palehorse on October 22, 2009, 03:26:42 PM
They're going to have to have the new steel made first. . . My guess is somebody else isn't getting their order on time because it is going to be used to fill this order! :biggrin:
That's very possible. Guess they need to find out how much, what length, and where to put the holes for the bolts....if it don't match up right that ain't good.....
Quote from: me on October 22, 2009, 03:29:12 PM
That's very possible. Guess they need to find out how much, what length, and where to put the holes for the bolts....if it don't match up right that ain't good.....
Them thar structural engineer types will git r done! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Guess it's a good thing there are so many unemployed out there. Reduces the number of people that are going to have to endure the winter of sorrow on the north east side of town! :biggrin:
Hey, at least the heart hospital is right there though. I'm betting they get a substantial increase in customers due to the coronary events the traffic is going to drive! :biggrin:
Damned. Hope they weren't performing a bypass procedure when that sucker went off! :spooked:
Well, they must have reopened I 69 northbound. I hear the steady whine of steel belted radials again! :rolleyes:
Here is a gallery of images from the Indy Star. These are used with permission as they allow embeds on their website. The images should display on their own.
Look at that cell tower! I bet they can't hear me now! :biggrin:
A few of those cars were looking a wee bit crispy as well. ;D
Quote from: Locutus on October 22, 2009, 05:47:12 PM
A few of those cars were looking a wee bit crispy as well. ;D
And the billboards! By the time that trucking company gets done paying for all the damages this did, they'll be bankrupt!
My wife is attending a class this evening at IWU's campus right along side I465, and she said it is surreal out there. No traffic! :smile: Not a single vehicle. . .