It took 13 years to replace the Woodrow Wilson Bridge,
According to Epic Engineering Disasters on Wondrium the Tampa Sunshine Bridge IIRC was basically the same thing, cargo ship hit support, bridge collapsed. This was 1980. They put big obstructions in front of the supports when they rebuilt I think, like huge versions of the concrete / steel things blocking cars from ramming store fronts. I'm kind of surprised between 1980 and this week there apparently wasn't any interest in adding these protections on to say this bridge.Good point - that may belay using a tunnel on this route. I'm no expert either to be clear. Perhaps there's a safer way to build bridges these days using more modern technologies since the original bridge was built in 1977 IIRC. Ways to somehow protect the bridge piles from collisions for example.
That is an outstanding move and decision by The Army Corps of Engineers.IMHOArmy Corps of Engineers to deploy 1,100 personnel to Baltimore
Army Corps of Engineers to deploy 1,100 personnel to Baltimore
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is deploying more than 1,100 personnel to Baltimore, Md., following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge into the Patapsco River early Tuesday morni…thehill.com
Richard
I doubt it. Ferries are not volume conduits and require substantial infrastructure established at both ends in addition to the actual Ferry.Once the debris is removed, perhaps cars/trucks can be ferried across.
I doubt it. Ferries are not volume conduits and require substantial infrastructure established at both ends in addition to the actual Ferry.
I also agree with your assessment Ferries boats cannot handle the daily volume of traffic in Balitmore to the surrounding areas.I doubt it. Ferries are not volume conduits and require substantial infrastructure established at both ends in addition to the actual Ferry.
I totally have big-time fear driving over bridges, and I live in the city of bridges, Pittsburgh! Sweaty palms, near panic if traffic stops on the bridge in front of me! This accident is my worst nightmare. It's absolutely the worst for those who lost their lives and their families. I've been praying for them.I have a huge hang up about driving over a bridge. I can ride but I can’t drive with my eyes closed. If they offered a service to drive the car over a bridge I would use it. This makes it worse.
That's already in progress - ships are already being rerouted - however there are logistics issues in play - such as the fact that these two ports cannot absorb the current volume of shipping and receiving activities from the Port of Baltimore - nor are they equipped to do so given ports tend to specialize in certain goods and services and have durable equipment designed specifically to handle certain goods and services. The Port of Baltimore for example, has become one of the primary ports on the eastern seaboard for both food and vehicles. Specific to vehicles - this port handles shipping for both the import of foreign made vehicles and export of American made vehicles - both consumer and commercial - over the past several decades. It remains to be seen what the long term impacts will be on certain supply chains if the port remains inaccessible.I heard someone suggest using a floating bridge.
But that would still block shipping from the harbor.
However...
Looking at a map, it would seem that other ports,
such as Norfolk or NYC, would be good alternative.
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It was working fine for decades until a loaded huge barge ran into it . Guess there are no requirement to have harbor pilots accompany these barges.I drove over that bridge twice last summer. Gave me shivers cause it looked frail from the road.
There was a pilot on board. They needed a tugboat.It was working fine for decades until a loaded huge barge ran into it . Guess there are no requirement to have harbor pilots accompany these barges.