Threat to Portland ME's Casco Bay Bridge

Portland Press Herald ^ | 1/7/04

[dts32041]

Somebody was asking where the Somali's live in relation to Portland.

The last time I drove it was about 25 or thirty minutes up 95.

If I still live in ME it wouldn't be within 30 minutes of Portland, 40 minutes from Bangor maybe or 40 minutes from Caribou, but not Portland.

[Selene]

Portland is probably an Al-Qaeda Base. In addition to Atta, the other "dirty bomb" suspect was spotted near there in September 2003

Terror suspect alert after a sighting in Maine
The Union Leader ^ | September 13, 2003 | KATHARINE McQUAID
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/982037/posts?q=1&&page=51

CHECK HIS PICTURE ON THE THREAD AND BOL

[MrsEmmaPeel]

Well, when they closed the bridge for the second time at lunchtime yesterday, the bridge was crawling with SWAT (I saw that video on the local news last night), while out my office window, I was looking at a coast guard helicopter just hovering above the Fore River. I initially noticed it on the Mill Creek Cove Side of the harbor, and when the helicopter disappeared from my immediate view, I could still hear it.

Local news last night were saying that the threat to the bridge is now believed to be a hoax.

I can't imagine an innocent "prankster" threatening the bridge in this post 9/11 era -- perhaps it was something more sinister -- testing the system, perhaps?

[Vermont Lt]

If I remember correctly, a great deal of the gasoline for the northeast comes into the terminal past the bridge. You knock out that bridge and the northeast cost for gas and heating oil goes through the roof.

At least I am glad to see that the security is a little better than it was a year or so ago.

[Leisler]

At a minimum, a modern steel bridge takes hundreds and hundreds of pounds of high explosives and a large team of trained engineers, and most likely a day or more of work to bring it down.

Wasted tax money.

[green iguana]

"Lewiston...worked there too. Aside from Bates, you could lose the whole town and the world would hardly notice"

I grew up in Lewiston. Few people would miss Bates. The one thing that would be a shame to lose (besides the Blue Goose Tavern) is St. Peter and Pauls church, a huge, beautiful, granite cathedral. Well I guess, that and my friends who still live there...

[green iguana]

"25 minutes up 95"

25 minutes up the Maine Turnpike. 95 now goes through Freeport and Brunswick on its way to Augusta.

[dts32041]

No wonder I could never get to Lewiston.

Always wonder why I kept ending up in Camden?

[ROCKLOBSTER]

At a minimum, a modern steel bridge takes hundreds and hundreds of pounds of high explosives and a large team of trained engineers, and most likely a day or more of work to bring it down

Or a direct hit by a fully loaded tanker.

[VMI70]

Amen.

I've tried to convey that for many years, (USACE). Remember when people were talking about the Golden Gate Bridge being brought down?
The only practical way of destroying that structure is with a nuke.

[fight_truth_decay]

"Police and state bridge inspectors found nothing suspicious and investigators said they suspect the threat was a hoax."

http://www.pressherald.com/news/local/040108bridge.shtml

[fight_truth_decay]

DeMillos---a tourist trap only!

[Leisler]

"Or a direct hit by a fully loaded tanker."

Even then, it would have to take out the concrete footing. That being so, there is nothing a Coast Guard cutter, and a world full of cruisers on the bridge could do to stop it.

[Leisler]

I actually don't know squat about such enterprises, save my dad getting his arm blown off at the Remagen bridge in WWII, and hence a peculiar, albeit vague, interest.

[clamper1797]

Yeah ... pretty much ... I like JJ's a whole lot better