Sam's Club Sign in Danger of Falling Down

[Erik Sine]

http://wgnsradio.com/sams-club-sign-in-danger-of-falling-down-cms-16068


The City of Murfreesboro’s Fire & Rescue, Police, Engineering, and Codes departments all worked together Thursday morning (11/7/2013) to avert a potential sign collapse at the Sam’s Club on John Rice Boulevard.



Murfreesboro Engineer Sam Huddleston notified WGNS that John R. Rice Boulevard was closed to traffic until the damaged sign is repaired. The closure includes no gas being sold at Sam's until the giant interstate sign is fixed.

The City of Murfreesboro’s Fire and Rescue, Police, Engineering, and Codes departments all worked together to avert a potential sign collapse at the Sam’s Club on John Rice Boulevard. Murfreesboro Police Department first arrived on the scene to discover a broken beam on a 110’ Sam’s Club sign, causing the sign to lean. (see above WGNS News photo)

Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue's Ladder 9 evaluated the situation and contacted City Engineer Sam Huddleston and the Codes department. All were in agreement of the potential disasters that could occur if the sign were to fall.

Police blocked access and eventually coned off the areas of John Rice Boulevard at Old Fort Parkway and the entrance to Sam’s Club. A collapse zone was also set up in a portion of the parking lot and the area around the fuel pumps.

(Photo below) Yellow tape circles the gas pumps at Sam's Club, and keeps motorists away from the potential fall zone while crews make repairs to the giant sign.




According to Captain/Shift Inspector Mark McCluskey, Boom Sign Company has three giant cranes in place to assist with repair or replacement of the sign. (see photo below)

“These areas will most likely remain closed for most of the day,” said McCluskey.

Sam’s Club is still open for business; however, shoppers will not be able to use the main entrance to the parking lot.

This is a major correction, and it is not known how long it will take to complete the repairs. In fact, Huddleston remained on-the-scene while crews were correcting the issue.

In the photo below, you can actually see how the two supporting posts are twisted and are not perfectly vertical as they should be.

[dave C.]

Wow! That 150.00 they saved by not putting a top inside ring on that pipe just costs Sam 40 Grand.

[geraldi]

Had a Mexican rest. here in town that was actually rotating because the inner ring didn't get welded and the top ring broke loose. It was the local weather vein for a few days.

[dave C.]

I've had multiple engineered drawings from hi-rise signs that showed no top inside ring, some as late as the late 90's.

I think most of the engineers wised up and realized just because it worked on paper it didn't translate well to actual conditions signs go thru.

Edited November 8, 2013 by dave C.

[geraldi]

The inner ring is what keeps the top one one from breaking the welds.

[imanut]

A big oops! Weird thing is that Sams/Walmart have one of their own inspectors on site to breathe down your neck watching for messy/unsatisfactory/missing welds. Even more strange - jobs that were done by previous company, Walmart/Sams furnished ALL steel - with rings, plates, gussets, etc already in place. AND - it all had to be done by a "certified" welder with certification verified. Not that that means a quality job, but..

gn

Edited November 8, 2013 by Gary Nutting

[Sign Lady]

Had a Mexican rest. here in town that was actually rotating because the inner ring didn't get welded and the top ring broke loose. It was the local weather vein for a few days.

We had a Mellow Mushroom restaurant here that did the same thing less than a month after it was installed. Probably that $150 the other "sign company" in this area under bid us! It looks like folks would eventually learn that cheaper ain't always better. Especially when it comes to their sign that is going to represent their business. Drives me crazy.

[imanut]

If you've ever seen a breakdown of an RFP by Walmart/Sam's Club ----- they don't miss a lick in counting their pennies. But I have to say - they are fair in how they treat their subs for issues that come up on a job. And I wouldn't say they go for the cheapest on the block either in accepting bids -- they are aware of what cheap costs. That's what is surprising about this --- course it could have been a reuse of old poles, etc. Either way, oops.

gn