ATRI: I-10 bridge collapse costs trucking $2.5M a day, $75M a month

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Updated Jul 26, 2015
CalTrans and the Arizona Department of Transportation recommend using these detours to get around the eastbound bridge closure. Even though the westbound bridge will open a lane to eastbound traffic Friday, it may still be more efficient to take the detours due to congestion.CalTrans and the Arizona Department of Transportation recommend using these detours to get around the eastbound bridge closure. Even though the westbound bridge will open a lane to eastbound traffic Friday, it may still be more efficient to take the detours due to congestion.

The collapse of the I-10 Tex Wash bridge in California has not only delayed truckers heading East on the route, but it is also costing the trucking industry big bucks each day to detour around the collapsed Interstate bridge, says one group.

According to the American Transportation Research Institute, the bridge closure is costing the trucking industry $2.5 million a day.

If the segment remains closed for a month, the cost would total about $75 million in aggregate to the trucks running that route.

ATRI says to estimate its figures, it used federal estimates of truck counts to identify daily traffic along the closed stretch of I-10, then used its database of truck GPS data to verify in real time where the majority of trucks are rerouting.

The Institute used its Operational Cost of Trucking cost per mile to calculate the daily and monthly cost of the detours. ATRI also noted it can’t account for congestion on the detour routes, which will increase the daily cost more.

ATRI says approximately 8,000 trucks have been impacted daily by the closed section of interstate, which helped them calculate the daily additional cost of operation.

On Tuesday, the California Department of Transportation announced the westbound bridge would have one of its lanes open to eastbound traffic.

Click here to read prior CCJ coverage of the bridge collapse, along with suggested detours.