Defect cited in Southest Virginia pedestrian bridge collapse

SALEM — A metal defect in an anchor bolt and a higher-than-typical load contributed to a Southwest Virginia pedestrian bridge collapse that injured nine people, the state Transportation Department says.

VDOT said Thursday that the bolt broke, causing the bridge spanning Walker Creek in Giles County to collapse Oct. 12. Ten people were on the cable-and-wood bridge when it collapsed.

Another factor was the use of open hook bolts to anchor the bridge. VDOT says “closed-eye” bolts would have “created an additional factor of safety.“

But the agency says the bolts would have held the load if there had been no defect.

The agency says it will implement the investigators’ recommendation to develop a way to prevent open hook anchor bolts from opening under extreme loads.