Uploaded June 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In May of 2021, inspectors on the I-40 Mississippi River Bridge near Memphis, Tennessee discovered a major crack in a structural member. They immediately contacted emergency managers to shut down this key crossing to vehicle traffic above and maritime traffic below. This video provides a summary of the event, including a discussion on arch bridges, fatigue in steel members, and national bridge inspection standards.
Errata:
(1) 8:38 "at minimum, an arm's length away" should be "at maximum, an arm's length away"
(2) 1:14 New Madrid is usually pronounced MA-drid, not ma-DRID.
(3) 4:55 ”It’s hard to understate the severity” should be “overstate”
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Practical Engineering is a YouTube channel about infrastructure and the human-made world around us. Hosted, written, and produced by Grady Hillhouse. We have new videos posted regularly, so please subscribe for updates. If you enjoyed the video, hit that ‘like’ button, give us a comment, or watch another of our videos!
CONNECT WITH ME
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Website: http://practical.engineering
Twitter: twitter.com/HillhouseGrady
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Reddit: reddit.com/r/PracticalEngineering
Facebook: facebook.com/PracticalEngineerGrady
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SPONSORSHIP INQUIRIES
____________________________________
Please email my agent at practicalengineering@standard.tv
DISCLAIMER
____________________________________
This is not engineering advice. Everything here is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Contact an engineer licensed to practice in your area if you need professional advice or services. All non-licensed clips are used for fair use commentary, criticism, and educational purposes.
SPECIAL THANKS
____________________________________
Stock video and imagery provided by Getty Images, Shutterstock, and Videoblocks.
Some imagery provided by ARDOT and TDOT via Twitter.
Tonic and Energy by Elexive is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License
Source: youtube.com/watch?v=U6fBPdu8w9U
Producer/Host: Grady Hillhouse
Assistant Producer: Wesley Crump
In May of 2021, inspectors on the I-40 Mississippi River Bridge near Memphis, Tennessee discovered a major crack in a structural member. They immediately contacted emergency managers to shut down this key crossing to vehicle traffic above and maritime traffic below. This video provides a summary of the event, including a discussion on arch bridges, fatigue in steel members, and national bridge inspection standards.
Errata:
(1) 8:38 "at minimum, an arm's length away" should be "at maximum, an arm's length away"
(2) 1:14 New Madrid is usually pronounced MA-drid, not ma-DRID.
(3) 4:55 ”It’s hard to understate the severity” should be “overstate”
Watch this video and the entire Practical Engineering catalog ad-free on Nebula: go.nebula.tv/practical-engineering
Practical Engineering is a YouTube channel about infrastructure and the human-made world around us. Hosted, written, and produced by Grady Hillhouse. We have new videos posted regularly, so please subscribe for updates. If you enjoyed the video, hit that ‘like’ button, give us a comment, or watch another of our videos!
CONNECT WITH ME
____________________________________
Website: http://practical.engineering
Twitter: twitter.com/HillhouseGrady
Instagram: instagram.com/practicalengineering
Reddit: reddit.com/r/PracticalEngineering
Facebook: facebook.com/PracticalEngineerGrady
Patreon: patreon.com/PracticalEngineering
SPONSORSHIP INQUIRIES
____________________________________
Please email my agent at practicalengineering@standard.tv
DISCLAIMER
____________________________________
This is not engineering advice. Everything here is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Contact an engineer licensed to practice in your area if you need professional advice or services. All non-licensed clips are used for fair use commentary, criticism, and educational purposes.
SPECIAL THANKS
____________________________________
Stock video and imagery provided by Getty Images, Shutterstock, and Videoblocks.
Some imagery provided by ARDOT and TDOT via Twitter.
Tonic and Energy by Elexive is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License
Source: youtube.com/watch?v=U6fBPdu8w9U
Producer/Host: Grady Hillhouse
Assistant Producer: Wesley Crump
