The States: Maybe A National Divorce Is A Good Idea After All

[aparch]

Yeah the fact it brought damn near the whole bridge and not just one small piece makes it look like it will block the whole harbor for quite some time.

From the construction photo that MDOT posted just three days ago, that's how it was designed.

[aparch]

Impact at 5:32.

I didn't notice the construction crew trucks on the right side of the bridge until I watched this clip full screen.

Along with listening to the radio traffic from bridge operations, I'm gonna go vomit now.

[MichVandal]

This. It’s not a ship, it’s a slow-motion bomb. There’s no way we would ever choose to design for that - the bridge pilings would have to be so large that they would block the whole channel anyway.

The better question to ask is what happened to the ship and is there anything that can be done there to improve the inherent reliability of the systems (more redundancy) or to require different operating procedures that reduce the likelihood or consequences of a system failure?

I think it’s reasonable to ask about the dolphin configuration, too. It missed the one pretty cleanly, and the ship easily fit behind it. Could there be a configuration that can lessen the odds of a direct hit?

[LynahFan]

The energy that ship had if it were at 5 mph was like your car traveling at the speed of sound. At 10 mph it would be 3200 mph

This. It’s not a ship, it’s a slow-motion bomb. There’s no way we would ever choose to design for that - the bridge pilings would have to be so large that they would block the whole channel anyway.

The better question to ask is what happened to the ship and is there anything that can be done there to improve the inherent reliability of the systems (more redundancy) or to require different operating procedures that reduce the likelihood or consequences of a system failure?

[dxmnkd316]

Also the people saying that shouldn't have brought the bridge down, I mean, I don't think they design it with a huge cargo ship hitting it in mind. It's like saying a bridge should be able to stand up to being carpet bombed. It's a bridge, it's not magic.

The energy that ship had if it were at 5 mph was like your car traveling at the speed of sound. At 10 mph it would be 3200 mph

[MichVandal]

Also the people saying that shouldn't have brought the bridge down, I mean, I don't think they design it with a huge cargo ship hitting it in mind. It's like saying a bridge should be able to stand up to being carpet bombed. It's a bridge, it's not magic.

Having been under it a few times, it’s a wider passage than other bridges that have been hit in the recent past. But when seeing the whole structure fail like that does raise some questions and probable requirements for the replacement. Especially considering the commerce that goes through there. And I think they should share in the cost, considering they are going to drive requirements.

[MichVandal]

Couer d’Alene, of course. That whole Spokanistan/Coeur d' Alene/Idaho Panhandle area is probably last on my list of places to visit in the US, despite its natural beauty. Mississippi is literally higher.

It’s worse north of there. Considerably worse. Real nazi country up there.

[rufus]

Facebook University never dissapoints, seems the Structural Engineers are all making their appearance today.

Funnily enough, these same people are also experts in virology and how elections are managed.

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

It's important but not vital -- there were three crossings of Chesapeake Bay near Baltimore (it's actually the Patapsco River but nobody has ever called it that): the bridge, Ft. McHenry Tunnel (I-95), and the Harbor Tunnel (I-895). The Ft. McHenry Tunnel is the biggie: I-95 is the main artery of the entire northeast, and I assume the second-most heavily trafficked road in the US after the I-5. The bridge served parts of South Baltimore and their suburbs. The big problem will be spillover effect of traffic onto already ridiculously crowded roads. Apparently it's also going to be a nightmare for the port.

I think it was also the main route for hazardous materials as tunnels can’t be used for that

[French Rage]

It's important but not vital -- there were three crossings of Chesapeake Bay near Baltimore (it's actually the Patapsco River but nobody has ever called it that): the bridge, Ft. McHenry Tunnel (I-95), and the Harbor Tunnel (I-895). The Ft. McHenry Tunnel is the biggie: I-95 is the main artery of the entire northeast, and I assume the second-most heavily trafficked road in the US after the I-5. The bridge served parts of South Baltimore and their suburbs. The big problem will be spillover effect of traffic onto already ridiculously crowded roads. Apparently it's also going to be a nightmare for the port.

Yeah the fact it brought damn near the whole bridge and not just one small piece makes it look like it will block the whole harbor for quite some time. Not to ignore the lives lost, of course, but that economic impact will be quite a lot; some things I've read say Baltimore was one of the main vehicle hubs for the East Coast. Maybe they will be able to clear all of that faster than was assume, weeks instead of months, but that's not nothing.

[Kepler]

How important was this bridge? Is this as bad or worse than 35W?

It's important but not vital -- there were three crossings of Chesapeake Bay near Baltimore (it's actually the Patapsco River but nobody has ever called it that): the bridge, Ft. McHenry Tunnel (I-95), and the Harbor Tunnel (I-895). The Ft. McHenry Tunnel is the biggie: I-95 is the main artery of the entire northeast, and I assume the second-most heavily trafficked road in the US after the I-5. The bridge served parts of South Baltimore and their suburbs. The big problem will be spillover effect of traffic onto already ridiculously crowded roads. Apparently it's also going to be a nightmare for the port.

[French Rage]

Facebook University never dissapoints, seems the Structural Engineers are all making their appearance today.

Also the people saying that shouldn't have brought the bridge down, I mean, I don't think they design it with a huge cargo ship hitting it in mind. It's like saying a bridge should be able to stand up to being carpet bombed. It's a bridge, it's not magic.

[Kepler]

The video of the collapse is insane.

Impact at 5:32.

[Drew S.]

Sounds like Domino is okay for the time being https://www.bakingbusiness.com/artic...t-of-baltimore

[aparch]

Facebook University never dissapoints, seems the Structural Engineers are all making their appearance today.