Yellowstone River Bridge Collapse Results in Freight Train Loaded with Hot Asphalt and Molten Sulfur Falling into the River

Bridge Collapse in Montana – Hazardous Materials Spill and Internet Service Disruption

COLUMBUS, Mont. – Yellowstone River Bridge Collapse

A bridge that crosses the Yellowstone River in Montana collapsed early Saturday, plunging portions of a freight train carrying hazardous materials into the rushing water below. The train cars were carrying hot asphalt and molten sulfur. Officials shut down drinking water intakes downstream while they evaluated the danger after the 6 a.m. accident. Railroad crews were at the scene in Stillwater County, near the town of Columbus, about 40 miles (about 64 kilometers) west of Billings.

Hazardous Materials Spill

There were three asphalt cars and four sulfur cars in the river. However, David Stamey, the county’s chief of emergency services, said there was no immediate danger for the crews working at the site, and the hazardous material was being diluted by the swollen river. The asphalt and sulfur both solidify quickly when exposed to cooler temperatures, so there is less concern about long-term damage to the environment. In neighboring Yellowstone County, officials said they instituted emergency measures at water treatment plants due to the “potential hazmat spill” and asked residents to conserve water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that sulfur is a common element used as a fertilizer as well as an insecticide, fungicide and rodenticide.

No Injuries Reported

The train crew was safe and no injuries were reported, Montana Rail Link spokesman Andy Garland said in a statement.

Internet Service Disruption

The bridge collapse also took out a fiber-optic cable providing internet service to many customers in the state, the high-speed provider Global Net said. “This is the major fiber route … through Montana,” a recording on the company’s phone line said Saturday. “This is affecting all Global Net customers. Connectivity will either be down or extremely slow.”

Possible Cause of the Collapse

The cause of the collapse is under investigation. The river was swollen with recent heavy rains, but it’s unclear whether that was a factor. The Yellowstone saw record flooding in 2022 that caused extensive damage to Yellowstone National Park and adjacent towns in Montana. Robert Bea, a retired engineering professor at the University of California Berkeley who has analyzed the causes of hundreds of major disasters, said repeated years of heavy river flows provided a clue to the possible cause. “The high water flow translates to high forces acting directly on the pier and, importantly, on the river bottom,” Bea said. “You can have erosion or scour that removes support from the foundation. High forces translate to a high likelihood of a structural or foundation failure that could act as a trigger to initiate the accident.”

Inspection and Maintenance

An old highway bridge that paralleled the railroad bridge — together, they were called the Twin Bridges — was removed in 2021 after the Montana Department of Transportation determined it was in imminent danger of falling. It wasn’t immediately clear when the railroad bridge was constructed or when it was last inspected. Investigators would want to look at whether there was wear or rust in bridge components as well as a record of maintenance, repair, and inspections. Federal Railroad Administration officials were at the scene working with local authorities. “As part of our investigation, we have requested and will thoroughly review a copy of recent bridge inspection reports from the owner for compliance with federal Bridge Safety Standards,” the agency said in a statement Saturday, noting that responsibility for inspections lies with bridge owners.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the collapse of the bridge in Montana has caused a hazardous materials spill and disrupted internet service in the area. Luckily, no injuries have been reported, and the situation is being evaluated and inspected to determine the cause and potential long-term effects on the environment.

Johnson reported from Seattle.

Read More of this Story at abcnews.go.com – 2023-06-25 10:05:38