Posted on 03/30/2024 2:31:48 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore came as quite a shock. After a massive container ship struck one of the bridge’s pillars, the entire span quickly fell apart, costing several lives.
It’s hard to overstate the bridge’s importance, particularly for the automobile industry. In addition to handling 11 million vehicles per year, it provided a vital way for trucks to access the Port of Baltimore while avoiding the dense city core. The impact on the region will be felt for months, if not years.
The question is, what now?
President Joe Biden has said that the federal government would foot the entire bill for rebuilding the bridge and demanded that Congress make it happen.
While the collapse came as a surprise, nobody should be surprised that Biden’s immediate response was to call for more federal spending.
Since taking office, Biden has signed trillions of dollars of spending increases into law and imposed more than $700 billion of additional costs through administrative decisions.
This reckless approach to budgeting has whipped up inflation and driven the gross national debt to $34.6 trillion—about $265,000 for every household in the country.
Fortunately, it’s possible for Washington to help Maryland rebuild the bridge without driving the nation deeper into debt.
First, all officials must be clear that the cost of rebuilding should mostly or entirely fall on the owners and operators of the ship, even if the incident was purely accidental. While litigation on such an important matter could take time to resolve, taxpayers shouldn’t be responsible for the cost of a privately caused disaster.
Second, there’s no need for Congress to authorize new funding to begin the process of clearing the channel and rebuilding the bridge . . .
(Excerpt) Read more at dailysignal.com ...
the company will try to reduce liability by using the 1851 maritime liability law still on the books.
> Back in the 80s DT was the toast of the town <
He most certainly was. But then Trump did something terrible, something unforgivable. He had the nerve to defeat Hillary Clinton and keep her out of the White House.
Anyway, to back up your point here’s a clip of Donald Trump singing “Green Acres” at the 2006 Emmy awards. The liberal audience loved him. And so did the liberal host, Ellen DeGeneres.
https://youtu.be/8_4a9Z44EKE?si=e8Jt0ehFBshSDfTJ
Lift up the bits and Duct Tape
Don’t worry, it will take 10 years and 10 billion cost overrun to fix it.
It can be named after Dylan Mulvaney or Pete Buttegieg, as the powers that be choose. Of course, the news reports about backups at the Buttegieg Ferry would have to be worded politely and with a straight face.
301 is worth considering as a way to avoid Baltimore.
It’s slower than the interstate but a nice ride.
Unfortunately for me, it would be 50-75 miles out of my way. I live 30 miles NE of the city.
Then it will get replaced quickly.
Legos
Just another Swamp induced feather in the cap of BOOTYJUICE!
“Put Trump’s crew on it.”
Trump has had six bankruptcies. Almost seven but the banks forgave $700 million in loans.
Point taken.
Given the much improved tunneling capabilities in today’s engineering world, would a tunnel be better?
I am referring, of course, to the “Chunnel” between England and FRance.
It’s wide enough to build a suspension bridge, not a bad idea in light of what the port has become.
Put another truss bridge there with the same supports and this will happen again.
A tunnel would be a lot more expensive. A tunnel was considered as an option before the original Key Bridge was built. It was deemed too expensive. A cable stayed bridge may not be the cheapest option, but I think it will be the most cost effective option and give a direct hazmat bypass of Baltimore.
The Gordie Howe Bridge (Detroit-Windsor) was delayed for two years on the Canada side by lawsuits over the habitat of the garter snake (I sh*t you not).
They eventually moved the access road at the cost of hundreds of millions.
I wouldn't go THAT far. If true, we'd be losing these fairly often in rougher seas. How many ≥ 100kt displacement ships have been lost thusly in the last 10 years? Any?
In G-Captain's article on major container ships lost since 2000, there are only two that catastrophically failed in (and presumably due to) heavy seas, and only one close to 100kt: The MOL Comfort, in 2013.
https://gcaptain.com/the-worst-containership-disasters-in-recent-history-in-photos/
Following MOL Comfort's breakup and sinking, tougher construction guidelines were adopted :
https://gcaptain.com/new-rules-to-enhance-safety-of-large-containerships/
Now, it IS true these ships avoid going around South Africa in storm season, but that's hardly unique to large cargo vessels.
It is also true that cheap shipping allows more trade. Trade volume has almost always pushed to the limits of practicality. It seems to literally be a function of being humans.
Not if the supports are well protected.
However, I agree about building in PLENTY of height and width with an eye to the future. And protect those supports.
I’m sure the local unions won’t be happy about a cost-effective budget for the repairs/replacement.
Hahahahahaha. Is that a real gif of Bootygag? What a contrived phony bit of propaganda.
It should not cost a penny more than what it cost to build.(adjusted for inflation.) The anchors are there. The design and engineering are done and on file. Install provisions to prevent it again and finish quick.
Hahahaha. I know. Ain’t gonna happen. Too much grift.
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