Thread by @Local24Brad

Today on @LocalMemphis, I'll provide online, on air and Twitter updates as @SecretaryPete visits #Memphis to update #40MSRiverBridge construction, see worksite & meet with @FedEx leaders on impact the bridge's indefinite closure is having on freight, commerce and logistics.

On top of @SecretaryPete visit, @myTDOT also expected this week to provide detailed construction timeline on when bridge can reopen to traffic. Last month, TDOT and ARDOT leaders feared it could take months, not weeks, to safely reopen the bridge after extensive repairs.

For now, the older I-55 bridge is the only the Mississippi River crossing connecting Memphis & Arkansas. @ARTrucking said I-55 bridge now averages more than 66,000 daily vehicles - compared to 45,000 before I-40 bridge closure.

Two temporary closures of some or all lanes this past week backed up I-55 bridge traffic for miles. Economists fear growing toll for companies longer the I-40 bridge is closed. My report from Wednesday ahead of @SecretaryPete visit to #Memphis today: bit.ly/3wZfVCJ

.@SenatorHagerty on @SecretaryPete visit in part: "Reopening this major thoroughfare is a priority for the Secretary & me. I believe (he) will come away from his visit today, recognizing that this urgent situation involving real infrastructure & real people must be solved now.

.@MarshaBlackburn & @RepCohen scheduled to join @SecretaryPete during his events in #Memphis Thursday.

LIVE STREAM LINK to @SecretaryPete speaking at @FedEx in #Memphis now: localmemphis.com/video/news/liv…

.@SecretaryPete begins remarks in Memphis by sending his condolences to recent shooting at Indianapolis FedEx facility.

.@SecretaryPete: I’ve been impressed & encouraged by cooperation between states & party lines. The greater Memphis area is critical to national and global supply chain, including rails, roads, rivers & runways here.
This (bridge situation) is proof of why infrastructure matters.

.@MarshaBlackburn: I-40 connects North Carolina to California. We need a timeline & framework of a timeline to be carried out (for repairs). Bridge impacts movement of ag products and other goods.

Donna England with TN Trucking Association: having this bridge down is costing motor carriers more money and impacting further what already had been a truck driver shortage. Those added costs get pushed to consumers.

.@RepCohen: we have two bridges. We’d like to have three bridges, maybe four (in Memphis) but three would be fine. We don’t want what happened in MN to happen here. We have to pass infrastructure bill. People can’t wait any longer.

.@ZShannonZ w/@ARTrucking: a lot of businesses in NE Arkansas currently have to bypass Memphis area entirely, cutting off that area for now impacts and stresses drivers in those businesses significantly. 26,500 drivers daily have to risk losing time weighing different routes.

Another trucking company rep said the I-40 bridge closure said their drivers had to shift hours to avoid peak congestion times through Memphis.

Notable comment from Stephanie Pollack w/@USDOTFHWA: We are not in position today to say what date (the I-40 bridge can safely reopen) its going to be; presumably we still have a while in this situation. #40MSRiverBridge

.@MarshaBlackburn: @RepCohen and I agree if you build something, you have to have (built in) maintenance costs. Moving forward, we have to make sure there is cross agency coordination when something of this nature happens. We had to work with Coast Guard, rail companies, airport.

.@RepCohen reiterates the need to have redundancies in maintenance.

.@SecretaryPete: The biggest things I’m taking away (from this @FedEx roundtable in #Memphis) is the importance of this infrastructure and the quantifiable costs so many people count on and cost of allowing things of keeping things how they’ve been.

More @SecretaryPete as he wraps the roundtable in #Memphis: It’s so important of investing in what we have and what we might need in the future. It’s also resonated with me the importance of partnerships.

.@SecretaryPete is holding a news conference this afternoon in #Memphis. I’ll be there with more live tweeting. Full recap live at 5/6 @LocalMemphis.

Scheduled speakers for 2:15 news conference in #Memphis that will be live streamed @LocalMemphis & live streamed by this guy: @SecretaryPete, @MayorMemphis, West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon, @myTDOT & @myARDOT.

Awaiting news conference. @LocalMemphis live stream.

Underway.

.@SecretaryPete: The #40MSRiverBridge closure is a national issue and impacts tens of thousands of jobs. It's an issue of national, logistical importance.

.@SecretaryPete: phase one of I-40 bridge repair is complete, the stabilizing of it and now phase two, the structural work, is underway. Ongoing inspections will also be important final piece.

.@SecretaryPete: I know how much this I-40 bridge closure has impacted cities on both sides of river, hospitality industry & trucking industry. We are doing everything we can to get bridge reopened safely. DOT in contact with TDOT/ARDOT every day to improve safety conditions.

.@MayorMemphis to former Mayor Pete and now @SecretaryPete: mayors get it. I’m proud of the ongoing Bipartisan and business community collaboration. Wouldn’t it be great if that sense of cooperation could also play out in Washington DC?

.@myTDOT commissioner Clay Bright: we are expecting delivery of critical repair I-40 materials in late June. We have been very careful about safety during this process. Stabilizing plates are now in place. I will assure there is someone somewhere working on this bridge 24/7.

.@myTDOT commissioner Clay Bright: We've been moved to front of line for needed I-40 bridge repair materials. If we do find additional issues during ongoing inspections, that COULD set project timeline further. The work of this bridge MAY go into August before it can reopen.

Commissioner Bright with @myTDOT: I can reiterate to the public that after several precautionary inspections, the detour I-55 bridge IS A STABLE a bridge and can carry all of its current daily vehicle load.

I asked @SecretaryPete about possible third bridge being built in Memphis; he said it's his hope whatever federal infrastructure legislation is eventually passed this year, he's hopeful it will include more money set aside to jumpstart funding for such NEW bridges nationwide.