RIP the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore

[BackInTex]

Yikes!

Cargo ship hits Baltimore’s Key Bridge, bringing it down. Rescuers are looking for people in water

BALTIMORE (AP) — A container ship rammed into a major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds and creating a terrifying scene as several vehicles plunged into the chilly river below.

It was not clear why the cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge long before the morning commute, or how many people might be in the waters of the busy harbor near a key port. Rescuers pulled two people from the water by mid-morning and searched for more.

[BackInTex]

This article has an X (formerly Twitter) video showing the ship approaching, losing powers several times, turning and steering directly into the support.

Watching the video sure looks like an intentional hit. Perhaps the ship's systems were hacked?

[Vandal]

This page has a video of the collapse. It went down like it was made of Tinkertoys.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nat ... 102358007/

[mellytu74]

We've been on that bridge countless times - my heart hurts for those lost and their families.

[tlynn78]

Just horrible.

[Beebs52]

I thought of Legos falling. We were counting cars crossing and didn't appear any were on at impact. Hope ones just before made it.

[kroxquo]

Apparently a mayday was sent in time for authorities to close the bridge to prevent any more traffic on it.

Traffic in and aroun Baltimore is going to be a nightmare for quite a while. The bridge was main conduit for trucks carrying any hazmat materials up and down I-95 which can't use the downtown tunnels. And I would think that the Port of Baltimore will be closed also which shuts down one of the busiest on the east coast.

[BackInTex]

Apparently a mayday was sent in time for authorities to close the bridge to prevent any more traffic on it.

Traffic in and aroun Baltimore is going to be a nightmare for quite a while. The bridge was main conduit for trucks carrying any hazmat materials up and down I-95 which can't use the downtown tunnels. And I would think that the Port of Baltimore will be closed also which shuts down one of the busiest on the east coast.

It will be a logistical mess for some time, for sure. Likely years. Hopefully the government challenges itself like it did during the Space Race to think outside the box to deliver success at an unexpected pace. Perhaps design, engineer, and contruct a new bridge parrallel to this one so the two projects (building the new one and demolishing the old one) can be done simultaneously. Though I suspect, if resources are there, the remenants of the current bridge could be cleared before the engineering work could be completed on a new one. That would free the harbor to resume operations.

[Bob Juch]

My daughter and I drove over that about four years ago.

[Bob78164]

It will be a logistical mess for some time, for sure. Likely years. Hopefully the government challenges itself like it did during the Space Race to think outside the box to deliver success at an unexpected pace. Perhaps design, engineer, and contruct a new bridge parrallel to this one so the two projects (building the new one and demolishing the old one) can be done simultaneously. Though I suspect, if resources are there, the remenants of the current bridge could be cleared before the engineering work could be completed on a new one. That would free the harbor to resume operations.

After the 1994 earthquake, when an overpass on the 10 freeway collapsed right in the middle of Los Angeles, they were able to get it up and running again in about 3 months. I understand that the contractor received quite a bonus for coming in well ahead of schedule. I get that bridges are harder than overpasses as well as longer, but this example gives me hope that government can work well and that the repair can be completed much faster than people currently expect. --Bob

[BackInTex]

It will be a logistical mess for some time, for sure. Likely years. Hopefully the government challenges itself like it did during the Space Race to think outside the box to deliver success at an unexpected pace. Perhaps design, engineer, and contruct a new bridge parrallel to this one so the two projects (building the new one and demolishing the old one) can be done simultaneously. Though I suspect, if resources are there, the remenants of the current bridge could be cleared before the engineering work could be completed on a new one. That would free the harbor to resume operations.

After the 1994 earthquake, when an overpass on the 10 freeway collapsed right in the middle of Los Angeles, they were able to get it up and running again in about 3 months. I understand that the contractor received quite a bonus for coming in well ahead of schedule. I get that bridges are harder than overpasses as well as longer, but this example gives me hope that government can work well and that the repair can be completed much faster than people currently expect. --Bob

If they decide to reuse the existing supports (other than the one hit) then it would be much faster but given they are over 40 years old, I doubt that would be acceptible. The gap between land is a little over a mile so a continuous suspension is doable. That will likely be the new design, not leaving anything in the path of any ship to repeat today's disaster.

The Gordy Howe Bridge connecting Detroit to Windsor has a span of "only" 2800 ft. Construction started in 2018 and is not expected to be complete until 2025 (7 years, not counting design and engineering). With all available resources and incentives, Chuck, I think they can build that bridge in 6 note...er.... 6 years.