Saga of Cracked Memphis Bridge Takes Wild Turn After Kayaker Digs Up a 5-Year-Old Picture

A bridge on Interstate 40 was closed on May 11 after a crack was found in a support beam during a routine inspection. New photos from a kayaker appear to show that the crack was present as far back as 2016.

According to The Associated Press, 64-year-old Barry W. Moore said he photographed the bridge in 2016. He was reportedly on a kayaking trip in the Mississippi River with friends from a Boy Scout troop that he volunteers with.

At the time, Moore said he did not notice the crack. However, when he heard the news about the bridge, he decided to go back and look at the old photos.
As for the AP, it reported that a photo editor inspected the photo and confirmed that it was shot on Aug. 6, 2016.

The latest update in the saga of the cracked structure known as Hernando de Soto Bridge certainly raises concerns about the inspection process.
Fox News reported that the inspector in charge of the bridge, whose name was not released, was fired on May 17 and could face further charges.

“This is unacceptable,” Arkansas DOT Director Lorie Tudor said. “From our investigation, we have determined the same employee who conducted the inspection in 2019 and 2020 failed to carry out his responsibilities correctly.