We have new information on the damage done to the Mathews Bridge during Tropical Storm Beryl.

We just obtained a report from the Department of Transportation, which says a wind meter on the bridge registered gusts of over 100 miles an hour as the storm made landfall Memorial Day.  The report finds maximum sustained winds of 37 mph. 

The temporary platform above the road was damaged, forcing the bridge to close for several days.

The report does not put a price tag on the repairs.

Here is the full report, courtesy of the Florida Department of Transportation:

During the recent Memorial Day holiday, Tropical Storm Beryl damaged about 16 percent of the overhead temporary platform constructed by the contractor to be utilized in the repainting and repairing the Mathews Bridge. This overhead platform system was implemented to allow workers to safely perform construction activities over live traffic. Using this overhead platform system significantly reduced the number of detours and lane closings required with the intent of shortening the time to perform the needed repainting and structural repairs.

This type of temporary platform system was used on painting and rehabilitation projects on two major bridges on the Texas gulf coast, the Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge in Corpus Christi and the MLK Memorial Bridge in Port Arthur. The Corpus Christi project endured three indirect hits by tropical cyclones in 2010, category two Hurricane Alex in June 2010, Tropical Depression Two a week later and Tropical Storm Hermine in September. Damage to the system during these storms was minimal and was repaired quickly.

After Tropical Storm Beryl damaged the Mathews Bridge temporary platform, the Florida Department of Transportation asked a project review team of 18 individuals to examine the events and determine if enhancements could be made to the platform system. This team included FDOT construction and bridge maintenance personnel, contractor representatives and engineers who designed the platform system. A FDOT wind meter on the bridge recorded maximum sustained winds of 37 miles-per-hour and gusts of over 100 miles-per-hour in the early morning hours of May 28. The temporary platform was designed to support the workers and temporary equipment needed for construction activities. The connection and support system was designed to handle 65-miles-per-hour winds.

Following recommendations of the review team, the contactor took additional steps to secure the temporary bridge platform during high wind conditions. Additional cables and anchoring clamps were installed to provide additional wind resistance for the platform. The number of platform attachments was increased by 67 percent and cross cables to provide more wind resistance were attached on top of the platforms.

The work platforms are temporary and designed to support construction activities without damaging the bridge. They are designed to break away without damaging the structure if hurricane force winds are encountered. Post-storm clean up can be expected if hurricane force winds are encountered.