How to Report Damage to Interstate Bridges
Interstate bridges can be prone to sudden and unexpected damage that should be reported promptly to authorities. A bridge may need repair after long-term weather damage or if it has been struck by a vehicle or machinery. When you see such damage, it should be communicated to authorities in the most-detailed manner possible.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Park your vehicle on the side of the highway and turn on your emergency flashers. Be sure the left side of your vehicle is at least 2 feet to the right of the painted line on the shoulder of the road.
-
2
Step out of the vehicle carefully and make sure no oncoming traffic is near.
-
-
3
Draw a rough sketch of the damaged area of the bridge. Draw it as clearly as possible and note whether it is on the north, south, east or west portion of the bridge. Ask yourself if you could find the damaged portion by following your own directions.
-
4
Return to your car and carefully get back on the road. Drive in the direction you were heading, and watch for the next highway mile-marker sign. These signs are narrow and rectangular, and have a 1-3-digit number that reads from top to bottom. Carefully pull over onto the shoulder near the mile marker, and write down its number.
-
5
Describe the location of the bridge you are reporting based on the direction in which you are driving. If you are traveling east, then the bridge is behind you to the west. Write on your report: "The bridge on Interstate X, due west of highway mile-marker X," substituting the correct information for "X."
-
6
Call the State Police or Highway Patrol for the state in which you are reporting the damaged bridge. Provide the detailed information you have written down and use your diagram to explain where the damage is.
-
7
Stay at your location if asked to do so by authorities. You may be asked to accompany an officer to show where the damage is.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images
