www.dailypostathenian.com A4 | DAILY POST-ATHENIAN NEWS | FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2021 STUDY: Athens Fire CONSTRUCTION: Concrete islands will be removed from Exit 52 FROM A1 that bridge to let oncoming traf- to be a little bit further away that intersection, but no men- needs third station, fic that is heading westbound from that bridge — squared up tion was made of turn signals Works Director Ben Burchfield know that there is somebody a little bit better to the bridge by TDOT. about the southbound off-ramp pulling out right there,” asked — and that will help with that The contractor will also begin double sta size on Highway 305 where drivers Coker. “That’s dangerous.” particular one (referenced by mobilizing equipment and per- turn left to head east toward Burchfield responded that the Coker),” explained Burchfield sonnel to exit 49. FROM A1 Athens. project would remove the con- at the time. “They’re changing Flynn noted that motorists are “Can there be a signal or an crete islands from these ramps the geometry of that side a little advised to reduce speed in the should have 3.4 fire stations today. Six- in-ground signal put there and at Exit 52. bit and it should help.” work zone and watch for work- teen years ago, it was right around three, a flashing light halfway across “It will actually allow cars Turn lanes are planned for ers on the interstate ramps. but we’ve annexed since then.” Ainsworth noted the close proximity of the city’s existing fire stations. “My stations today are on top of each RESIGNS: other,” he said. Etowah The study states that each engine com- pany should cover a 1.5-mile radius and a ladder company should cover a 2.5- will begin search mile radius. “We don’t have a staffed ladder com- pany,” said Ainsworth noting that the for city manager city does have a ladder truck. “We’ve got to get that ladder truck staffed and run- FROM A1 ning every day.” The study recommends moving the “We have a lot of projects currently Congress Parkway fire station (Station going but we have to do what is needed #2) closer to Exit 49 of Interstate 75 and to do. We have (consultant) Mike (Tall- adding a third station near Exit 52. ent) who is able to help us and we have “I don’t completely, from an operational (Etowah Utilities General Manager) Har- standpoint, agree with that being a start- old Masengil to take care of the south ing point,” said Ainsworth. end of the old industrial park and the He said moving Station #2 only spreads pool has been a source of great anguish,” out the two existing facilities, but would Garwood expressed. “It is like shooting not add capacity to the department. pool with rope. You just can’t do it but “That’s not a starting point,” said Ain- you have to deal with it and move on.” sworth. “My starting point is we’ve got According to Garwood, they have start- to add resources, not take away.” ed the process of looking for a new city Ainsworth developed an alternative to manager. the MTAS recommendation that would JOE RONDONE | THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL VIA AP “We have been working with MTAS establish a triangular coverage area Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg tours the closed Hernando De Soto bridge on Thursday. (Municipal Technical Advisory Ser- between three strategically-placed fire The bridge should carry Interstate 40 across the Mississippi River between West Memphis, Arkan- vice) trying to aget the advertisements stations. sas, and Memphis, Tennessee, but has been shut down since a fracture was discovered on May 11. out with the qualifications that we feel “I’m basing this off of where my call vol- like we need and getting the ball rolling. ume is at; where my need is at,” he said. Ideally we would like to be through this Ainsworth agrees with building a station US Secretary of Transportation visits in 90 days,” he stated. “We are looking near Exit 49. He suggested the two other for people with experience. They need stations eventually be located on North to be able to write grants, show compe- Congress Parkway near the Highway 305 tence in their background check, just the intersection and in the City Park neigh- Memphis to investigate closed bridge normal kinds of stuff.” borhood along West Madison Avenue. He Garwood added that he expects the called this a “perfect world” scenario and BY ADRIAN SAINZ I-40 is a key artery for U.S. commerce, role will be filled well when a decision conceded that it is not currently finan- The Associated Press running from North Carolina to California. is made. cially feasible. Shippers rely on the interstate to move “She was a real strong and smart Ainsworth again emphasized the need MEMPHIS — U.S. Department of Trans- products and materials across the river. woman and I hate that we lost her,” he to provide full-time staffing for the city’s portation Secretary Pete Buttigieg traveled When the 47-year-old, six-lane I-40 bridge expressed. “She was a blessing, but we ladder truck for larger buildings that to Tennessee on Thursday to learn how the is open, about 50,000 vehicles typically will move on and when the next one require a higher volume of water and do closure of the Interstate 40 bridge connect- travel across it, with about a quarter of comes in, hopefully within two or three not have adequate existing fire suppres- ing that state and Arkansas has affected those being commercial trucks, Tennessee years we will have just as many good sion infrastructure. freight movement since it was shut down transportation officials say. A timetable for things to say about them.” “Our ladder truck is useless because more than three weeks ago when a crack the I-40 bridge’s reopening has not been it’s not staffed,” he said. was found in the span. officially set, but Bright said construction EMAIL shane.duncan@ He referenced the recent fire at the Ath- Buttigieg met with regional transporta- is expected to run into at least late July. dailypostathenian.com ens Housing Authority, which resulted in tion officials at a FedEx Corp. facility in a total loss of the building, as an example Memphis before a tour of the Hernando De of the need for a full-time ladder truck. Soto bridge. Shipping giant FedEx operates “From the time we received the call its massive fleet of airplanes and trucks until that truck got there was 16.13 min- out of its headquarters in Memphis, which utes,” said Ainsworth. “That is absolutely has seen road traffic problems since the unacceptable.” I-40 bridge spanning the Mississippi River The on-duty staff arrived on scene in was closed and vehicles were diverted to four minutes. The off-duty battalion chief the nearby Interstate 55 bridge. that arrived in the ladder truck had to The visit comes as President Joe Biden come from home to pick up the truck proposes a national, $1.7 trillion infra- before heading to the scene. structure package, while Republican sen- “Would it have made a difference? ators want a more narrow investment Most likely,” said Ainsworth of a faster in roads, highways and other traditional response. “But unfortunately, that’s how public works projects. The cracked bridge it works. That truck needs to be staffed has served as a symbol of bridge decay sooner than later.” in the U.S., which has 45,000 bridges in According to the NFPA, Athens should poor condition and faces a trillion-dollar have 15 people per shift — more than backlog in repairs, federal transportation double the seven people it currently has officials have said. per shift. Officials stress that making the bridge “Sixteen years ago, it was the same thing. safe should be the main goal, with main- Nothing’s changed,” said Ainsworth. taining the flow of interstate commerce More details from the MTAS study, and commuter traffic as other priorities. including staffing recommendations, “Safety is at the heart of what’s happened will be included in a future edition of at the De Soto bridge,” Buttigieg during The Daily Post-Athenian. the discussion at FedEx. A complete funeral chapel. A caring staff of professional, licensed directors. Only the best quality funeral supplies. 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