Livingston’s 9th Street Bridge endangered
June 20, 2008 | Filed Under Breaking News, Seriously/Real Stuff, Around town | 1 Comment
On Thursday the rapid and rising Yellowstone River undermined a pier on the 9th Street Bridge causing it to sag. Island residents were evacuated on foot, wearing helmets and life vests and escorted by emergency crew. Some of the folks who chose to stay on the island were evacuated by helicopter today. It is estimated that about 10 people remain on the island as well as numerous pets and some horses. The bridge continues to drop and the Montana Department of Transportation believes that it will collapse. Search and Rescue boats and Bailey Bridge components were brought in. Flood advisory, hydrology report, and news links follow the slide show.
Today’s pictures:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) advisories.
Hydrology report/graph for the Yellowstone River near Livingston.
News stories:
- “Livingston bridge expected to collapse” Updated: June 20, 2008 05:28 PM. Reporting from KBZK in Bozeman. “A Livingston bridge that is over 50 years old is on the brink of collapsing. We’re told the 9th Street bridge has dropped 7 inches since this morning.”
- “Livingston bridge closed for fear of collapse” June 19, 2008: “LIVINGSTON, Mont. (AP) - A one-lane bridge that crosses the Yellowstone River here was on the brink of collapse Thursday after being pounded by rising, fast-moving water for weeks, authorities said. Park County officials closed the Ninth Street bridge at about 4:30 p.m. after it began to sag noticeably.”
- Sagging Montana bridge prompts island evacuation