I-85 Bridge Collapses in Atlanta During Massive Fire

Residents of Atlanta, Georgia are experiencing what everyone who drives across the Calcasieu River fears each day, a bridge collapsing.

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, a massive fire erupted below the I-85 bridge on Thursday night (March 30) at about 6:30 p.m., the bridge later collapsed at approximately 7 p.m. No injuries have been reported, but all lanes remain blocked and heavy black smoke can be seen from miles away.

Looking at the Google Earth photo below, the fire began from what appears to be some form of storage drums or containers stored below the bridge. What the contents of those containers were remains a mystery for now. Check back for updates.

News of a collapsed bridge in Atlanta hits close to home for all of us in Southwest Louisiana who tend to fear the worst in regards to the condition of the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge.

A 64-year-old bridge built in 1952 with a sufficiency rating of 6.6, as of March 2017, doesn’t help convincing us something won’t happen in the future. Though fire caused the bridge collapse in Atlanta, the aftermath of something similar happening in SWLA could prove to be much more catastrophic for those who travel the terrifying bridge each day.

I’m not wishing for anything catastrophic to happen to the I-10 bridge, but lets be honest about what most SWLA residents and others who travel across the bridge fear. We all know that bridge isn’t safe by a long shot.

I’m happy no one was hurt in Atlanta on today. Honestly, this could happened anywhere in the USA. My question now is what was being stored under that bridge, and why was it there to begin with?

[AJC]