Posted on 03/29/2024 9:22:10 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Could it really take twice as long and four times as much money to replace the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge than it did to build it in the first place?
The Key Bridge was built at a cost (adjusted for inflation) of about $200 million. Replacing it could take a decade and cost $400 million to $800 million dollars, according to experts in what has become a dismal field.
“To actually recreate that whole transportation network" could take a decade or more, structural engineer Ben Schafer told USA Today on Wednesday. Huge projects, Schafer said, now take “rarely less than 10 years."
Well, they didn't use to.
By comparison, the Apollo program that put a man on the moon required seven years, eight months, and 23 days. And — this is the really exciting part — everything about Apollo, from the massive Saturn V rocket to the "tiny" flight computer, had to be created from scratch. Those seven-and-a-half years included a monthslong delay following the tragic loss of astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee during an Apollo 1 dress rehearsal that ended in a deadly crew capsule fire.
Construction began on the Hoover Dam on July 7, 1930, and five years later, it was complete. It started generating electrical power on Sept. 11, 1936 — exactly six years, two months, and four days after the first shovelful of dirt was moved.
The Empire State Building was fully erect (heh) after just one year and 45 days of construction.
But those were all 20th Century projects, back when we used to get things done. Welcome to 21st Century America, where everything is needlessly time-consuming, expensive, stupid, or (most likely) all three.
(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...
Trump could do it in a year.
The America of today is no longer the America 3 generations ago.
By comparison, the Apollo program that put a man on the moon required seven years, eight months, and 23 days. And — this is the really exciting part — everything about Apollo, from the massive Saturn V rocket to the “tiny” flight computer, had to be created from scratch. Those seven-and-a-half years included a monthslong delay following the tragic loss of astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee during an Apollo 1 dress rehearsal that ended in a deadly crew capsule fire.
Construction began on the Hoover Dam on July 7, 1930, and five years later, it was complete. It started generating electrical power on Sept. 11, 1936 — exactly six years, two months, and four days after the first shovelful of dirt was moved.
The Empire State Building was fully erect (heh) after just one year and 45 days of construction.
But those were all 20th Century projects, back when we used to get things done. Welcome to 21st Century America, where everything is needlessly time-consuming, expensive, stupid, or (most likely) all three.
Sell the land to a developer and make the bridge privately owned or announce $100,000 a day early completion bonus.
Problem solved.
“Could it really take twice as long and four times as much money to replace the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge than it did to build it in the first place? “
The original project didn’t involve clearing the wreckage of an original bridge
Can’t begin the work without an exhaustive environmental and safety study. Also, I doubt you can find enough local experience in building a bridge. So a contract has to be given to an international company who has to ship people and equipment to the area. Probably, or a politicians donor friend. A bridge can be a great way to launder money into a political campaign.
Because we don’t build bridges like this so often, who knows how to build it?
The study to select a politically correct name alone will cost $100 million and take five years. There’s no way they will continue to honor that dead white male who wrote the racist “Star Spangled Banner.”
Besides, whoever uses the word “Spangle”? Does anybody even know what a “spangle” is? Be sure to toss in another $10 million and one year to figure out how to deep-six that offensive word (somebody has to be offended by it).
One report said the ship is founded on the bottom of the bay due to weight of bridge parts on it’s front.
It also said——IN 25-26 FEET of water?????
IS the draft that small on a ship that large???
Yup. Same for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. He has a great reputation for “fixing things fast” after the last few rounds of hurricanes in Florida.
“”The Key Bridge was built at a cost (adjusted for inflation) of about $200 million. Replacing it could take a decade and cost $400 million to $800 million dollars””
Think “Boston Big Dig” and CA’s high speed train......
Get the Chinese to build it. We can pay them a lot of money.
Yeah. We're in Baltimore. You know the deal.
Good thread....thanks.
“”Welcome to 21st Century America, where everything is needlessly time-consuming, expensive, stupid, or (most likely) all three.””
Appears to be the case all right....Maybe our 20th Century was getting things done and not so much emphasis on control (minding everyone’s business but our own) and power!!!
Back in the day before environmental impact studies ad nauseum and DEI.
Heaven forbid “they” find even one bog turtle in the vicinity.
LOL. It won't take 10 years, but cost is off by a factor of 10X
Remember its Fed.gov, and its Baltimore.
When it’s all said and done, the cost will be $10-15 BILLION and take 2-3 years.
Wasn’t that an incentive to get the Bay Bridge in CA repaired after the 1989 earthquake?
Is it necessary?
Well it is clearly going to have to be a much buffer bridge. Plus probably more lanes. And of course there’s way more government to make happy with every step of the process.
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