The Key Bridge collapse will not be solved by a quick fix as with I-95 in Philadelphia....

[brooklynite]

The Bridge was at the entry point to Baltimore's cargo port. The replacement bridge needs to be built high enough for today's cargo ships to pass underneath, and construction will need to occur while allowing ship traffic to proceed. The old bridge took five years to build, on top of the time to plan and design the crossing, and the need for a new environmental impact statement.

The Port will likely be closed for weeks while the investigation and rescue continues, and until the debris can be cleared from the shipping channel.

[jimfields33]

1. I'd like them to speak with other cities who went through

this. I think Broward (Fort Lauderdale) lost a bridge last year and they rebuilt in five days. At least get the summary of action of how it went, how the bridge is now. I’d like cities to begin working together especially during a crisis.

[FSogol]

5. Apples and oranges. What makes you think cities don't work together during crises?

[jimfields33]

7. I don't know. But if they did, I'm sure we'd know it.

[yardwork]

8. I know they do.

I don't know where you get your news.

[jimfields33]

13. I'm just guessing poorly.

Thank you for your reply. I’m glad they do.

[yardwork]

16. Mayors and governors offer mutual aid.

They belong to associations and share information and best practices. In emergencies they offer mutual aid.

[Best_man23]

9. I think a more similar case is the Sunshine Skyway bridge across Tampa Bay

A ship hit that bridge in May 1980, causing the southbound span to collapse. It took weeks to clear the debris from the collapsed bridge to reopen Tampa Bay to shipping traffic. In the case of the Skyway, the northbound span was separate from the portion of the bridge that collapsed, so vehicle traffic could still cross (albeit it was one lane each direction). It then took 2 years to begin construction and 5 years to build the new bridge.

For the Key Bridge, I think there will be an expedited effort (read: 24/7 when weather permits) to get that bridge rebuilt ASAP. Obviously finding and recovering anyone who went down with the bridge is the first priority.

[brooklynite]

10. This is nothing like Fort Lauderdale...

The FL Cruise Terminal is open to the sea and the only bridges there are on local streets. The Key bridge was substantially longer and over a deeper channel, and will now need to be redesigned to both accommodate and be crash resistant to modern cargo ships which are significantly larger than they were in the 70s when the bridge was built.

[sl8]

11. Are you sure it was in Broward/Florida?

Last edited Tue Mar 26, 2024, 09:21 AM - Edit history (1)

All I'm finding in my search is related to the FIU pedestrian bridge that collapsed 6 years ago and has yet to be rebuilt (a construction contract was awarded last month.)

The only bridge I can think of that collapsed last year and was repaired very quickly (12 days), was the I95 overpass in Philadelphia. But, my memory isn't all that great.

On edit:
I've since found an article about a crane collapse on I95 last year, in Broward, but that doesn't sound like what you were talking about:

https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/2-workers-injured-in-crane-collapse-on-i-95-in-broward/2923083/

[Tommy Carcetti]

2. IIRC the Philadelphia bridge was a small highway overpass

The Key Bridge was a massive river crossing.

[underpants]

3. I hadn't even thought about the port being closed

That’s going to be a massive operation

[GoneOffShore]

12. This is going to be much worse than the Ever Given blockage of the Suez Canal.

[we can do it]

4. Thankfully we have a competent administration to facilitate rebuilding.

[Takket]

6. Yeah the Philly bridge was on land

There is no land to sit a temporary bridge on. And the key bridge is a mile and a half long. The Philly bridge was maybe a few hundred feet???

There is no temporary solution here.

About 30000 cars a day used that bridge and it was also a toll bridge. So Maryland suddenly has about a forty million dollar hole in its budget.

[PCIntern]

14. I was on a cruise recently out of the Baltimore terminal

And I’m wondering what they’re going to do about any ships trapped in the harbor. What a nightmare. There’s going to be ripple effects up and down the east coast.

[bigtree]

15. and running a marathon is harder than a sprint

...this should be obvious.

What's not evident right now is the spirit and energy that Maryland and our Dem administration will certainly muster to put this right again, no matter how long it takes.

We don't need cynicism and pessimism here.

[Prairie_Seagull]

17. I went through this whole process for years when

The West Seattle bridge was being constructed and what a clusterfuck it was/is

Pay the money and build very good bridges. It's going to cost money, it sucks but learn from us build the best that can be afforded. In our case there was 'shrinkage'.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/what-cracked-the-west-seattle-bridge-suspects-include-heavy-traffic-a-jammed-bearing-and-something-called-creep/

We left the area, which I love, due in part to this