Bad deal...

[Gellar]

$110 million to build in the 70's. Imagine what it'll be to reclaim and then build again.

They are rebuilding the bridge across the Mississippi river here in town and the bid is for $127 million. The bridge here is only 2 lanes and maybe 1000’ long.

 

[Nick87]

They are rebuilding the bridge across the Mississippi river here in town and the bid is for $127 million. The bridge here is only 2 lanes and maybe 1000’ long.

Seems like every time I cross that bridge they were working on it.

 

[Gellar]

Seems like every time I cross that bridge they were working on it.

It’s currently closed because when they were driving beams for the new pillars on the new bridge it actually lifted and moved the old bridge about 12”.

 

[BuzzH]

a cple of comments on the situation:

This is one of the busiest U.S. port for car shipments, handling more than 750,000 vehicles in 2023, according to Reuters

the collapse of the Key Bridge means that the Baltimore Port will be unusable for many months. It's the 13th most important US port for foreign trade The economic impact on the city, which is already plagued by social misery and violent crime, will be huge

According to @rjthehunter and @Mallardsx2 Baltimore should just find their bootstraps.

This will take some socialism/Government help to solve, which I'm sure will make heads explode.

Going to be a huge impact for sure, and as the OP stated, very bad deal.

 

[geetar]

Terrible day for many people. Can't imagine being in that traffic today. Heart goes out to them in prayers.

 

[OntarioHunter]

Most effective way to turn a ship like that is with the screws. One turning forward and one aft. When the power comes back on the first time, thats almost certainly the maneuver they were attempting. The second time power comes back on, it's inevitable they're going to hit so they're probably full back at that point.

Since there was enough time to block traffic onto the bridge, one would think there'd have been enough time to drop anchors. Unless power is required to release them. Should be a failsafe to release anchors in case power is lost. You'd think so anyway. I'm guessing the cops didn't know workers were on the bridge. A terrible tragedy but could have been a horrible disaster at 5:00 pm instead of 1:30 am. Unlikely the bridge could have been cleared of traffic during rush hour gridlock.

 

[Nick87]

Since there was enough time to block traffic onto the bridge, one would think there'd have been enough time to drop anchors. Unless power is required to release them. Should be a failsafe to release anchors in case power is lost. You'd think so anyway. I'm guessing the cops didn't know workers were on the bridge. A terrible tragedy but could have been a horrible disaster at 5:00 pm instead of 1:30 am. Unlikely the bridge could have been cleared of traffic during rush hour gridlock.

I read they had dropped anchor. How true that is I have no idea. I'd imagine dropping anchor isn't gonna bring something like that to an abrupt stop, but who knows.

 

[OntarioHunter]

I read they had dropped anchor. How true that is I have no idea. I'd imagine dropping anchor isn't gonna bring something like that to an abrupt stop, but who knows.

I can see at least one anchor dropped in the post crash scene. It was windy and that may have played a big role. My oldest daughter lives in Baltimore and she heard it collapse at 1:30 but thought it was trains hooking up at the nearby railyard. Then she heard the helecopters.

 

[np307]

Since there was enough time to block traffic onto the bridge, one would think there'd have been enough time to drop anchors. Unless power is required to release them. Should be a failsafe to release anchors in case power is lost. You'd think so anyway. I'm guessing the cops didn't know workers were on the bridge. A terrible tragedy but could have been a horrible disaster at 5:00 pm instead of 1:30 am. Unlikely the bridge could have been cleared of traffic during rush hour gridlock.

They dropped anchor. My understanding is that you're right, they are able to do that even without power. My dad has some professional experience in this area and said that they probably had some amount of rudder control too, even without power. It just doesn't matter. Takes way too long to maneuver if the engines are down.

 

[rjthehunter]

According to @rjthehunter and @Mallardsx2 Baltimore should just find their bootstraps.

This will take some socialism/Government help to solve, which I'm sure will make heads explode.

Going to be a huge impact for sure, and as the OP stated, very bad deal.

Your dumbassery continues shining brightly.

Are you not getting enough attention at home again? Need to try and seek some online again?

We get it. You're a bleeding heart liberal. You make it pretty clear. Poor buzzard got his feelers hurt.

 

[Nick87]

Finally gonna have some entertainment it's been a couple days.

 

[mdhunter]

Tragic, horrible deal. I have traveled that bridge many times bitching about the traffic etc. Can’t imagine how disruptive it will be for everyone living in the area. The economic impact of essentially closing one of the east coasts major ports will be massive.

 

[rjthehunter]

Finally gonna have some entertainment it's been a couple days.

I'm ready when he is!

 

[Nick87]

I'm ready when he is!

I'm sure you are.

 

[rjthehunter]

This reminds me of back in 2007 when we had the 35W bridge collapse in the cities. That was unprovoked though. 135 injured and 13 killed in that one. It sounds like this was partially blocked off so there wasn't many on it.

 

[SAJ-99]

Your dumbassery continues shining brightly.

Are you not getting enough attention at home again? Need to try and seek some online again?

We get it. You're a bleeding heart liberal. You make it pretty clear. Poor buzzard got his feelers hurt. View attachment 320461

But he isn't wrong. I assure you there are no longer any libertarians who cross that bridge on a daily basis. Once it gets rebuilt, maybe they will switch back.

The rebuild of I-95 bridge in Philly is an example of what Americans can do when faced with these situations. Sure, it takes money, but it also takes hard-working and skilled people who work together. If we put aside all the blaming and wondering who's going to take credit for stuff we can actually solve problems.

 

[Nick87]

If we put aside all the blaming and wondering who's going to take credit for stuff we can actually solve problems.

Yah and put all the douche bag politicians back to work at burger king. Kidding, they'd never make it at Burger King either.

 

[rjthehunter]

But he isn't wrong. I assure you there are no longer any libertarians who cross that bridge on a daily basis. Once it gets rebuilt, maybe they will switch back.

The rebuild of I-95 bridge in Philly is an example of what Americans can do when faced with these situations. Sure, it takes money, but it also takes hard-working and skilled people who work together. If we put aside all the blaming and wondering who's going to take credit for stuff we can actually solve problems.

I never once said government was unnecessary. It has its time and place. Obviously roads are important. I'm assuming @Mallardsx2 is in the same boat I am that the involvement is a little much.

 

[SAJ-99]

I never once said government was unnecessary. It has its time and place. Obviously roads are important. I'm assuming @Mallardsx2 is in the same boat I am that the involvement is a little much.

But everyone looks for help when the stuff hits the fan. Floods, hurricanes, tornados, wild fires, bridges falling, or even being old and poor because of some bad luck. Society as a whole makes those decisions. People complain about the debt but they would complain equally if the government collected more money than was necessary to pay the bills. See 2001 checks as an example.

 

[Desk Pop]

But he isn't wrong. I assure you there are no longer any libertarians who cross that bridge on a daily basis. Once it gets rebuilt, maybe they will switch back.

The rebuild of I-95 bridge in Philly is an example of what Americans can do when faced with these situations. Sure, it takes money, but it also takes hard-working and skilled people who work together. If we put aside all the blaming and wondering who's going to take credit for stuff we can actually solve problems.

Libertarians think the government should be small and limited in scope, not non-existent.

They also believe in personal responsibility.

It'd be really crazy if they made the shipping company responsible pay to rebuild the bridge they destroyed instead of hitting up the US taxpayers.

A P Moller Maersk has about $80+ billion USD of assets and $55 billion USD of equity...although the stock took a bit of a tumble today for some reason.