Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge I-695 GONE

[pedro47]

It took 13 years to replace the Woodrow Wilson Bridge,

 

[jp10558]

Good point - that may belay using a tunnel on this route. I'm no expert either to be clear. Perhaps there's a safer way to build bridges these days using more modern technologies since the original bridge was built in 1977 IIRC. Ways to somehow protect the bridge piles from collisions for example.

According to Epic Engineering Disasters on Wondrium the Tampa Sunshine Bridge IIRC was basically the same thing, cargo ship hit support, bridge collapsed. This was 1980. They put big obstructions in front of the supports when they rebuilt I think, like huge versions of the concrete / steel things blocking cars from ramming store fronts. I'm kind of surprised between 1980 and this week there apparently wasn't any interest in adding these protections on to say this bridge.

 

[rapmarks]

Not comparable, but a demonstration of how fast things can get done

Reconstruction of CTH A and Refilling of Lake Delton

After 13 in. of rain fell on south-central Wisconsin in three days during early June, 2008, an embankment along Lake Delton gave way, unleashing a raging torrent of water that drained the 600-million-gallon lake dry in just a few hours. Photo: JOE OLIVA Reconstruction of CTH A and Refilling of...

www.enr.com

 

[MULTIZ321]

Baltimore bridge collapse: Divers find two bodies in submerged truck

Baltimore bridge collapse: Divers find two bodies in submerged truck

Searches continue for four other people missing after two bodies are found in a submerged truck.

www.bbc.com

Richard

 

[davidvel]

The power line poles next to the bridge have way more protection than the bridge supports.

 

[chapjim]

Clearing the channel is a higher priority than building the bridge. And has to be done first anyway.

 

[MULTIZ321]

Army Corps of Engineers to deploy 1,100 personnel to Baltimore

Army Corps of Engineers to deploy 1,100 personnel to Baltimore

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is deploying more than 1,100 personnel to Baltimore, Md., following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge into the Patapsco River early Tuesday morni…

thehill.com

Richard

 

[pedro47]

Army Corps of Engineers to deploy 1,100 personnel to Baltimore

Army Corps of Engineers to deploy 1,100 personnel to Baltimore

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is deploying more than 1,100 personnel to Baltimore, Md., following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge into the Patapsco River early Tuesday morni…

thehill.com

Richard

That is an outstanding move and decision by The Army Corps of Engineers.IMHO

 

[DRIless]

Once the debris is removed, perhaps cars/trucks can be ferried across.

I doubt it. Ferries are not volume conduits and require substantial infrastructure established at both ends in addition to the actual Ferry.

 

[pedro47]

I feel the key is to open the port waters lanes for shipping cargo in and out of the Port of Balitmore. IMHO

 

[pedro47]

I doubt it. Ferries are not volume conduits and require substantial infrastructure established at both ends in addition to the actual Ferry.

I doubt it. Ferries are not volume conduits and require substantial infrastructure established at both ends in addition to the actual Ferry.

I also agree with your assessment Ferries boats cannot handle the daily volume of traffic in Balitmore to the surrounding areas.
Ferry boats will need two (2) docks one in Balitmore and one in Washington, DC.

 

[Talent312]

I heard someone suggest using a floating bridge.
But that would still block shipping from the harbor.
However...
Looking at a map, it would seem that other ports,
such as Norfolk or NYC, would be good alternative.
.
.

 

[dmharris]

I have a huge hang up about driving over a bridge. I can ride but I can’t drive with my eyes closed. If they offered a service to drive the car over a bridge I would use it. This makes it worse.

I totally have big-time fear driving over bridges, and I live in the city of bridges, Pittsburgh! Sweaty palms, near panic if traffic stops on the bridge in front of me! This accident is my worst nightmare. It's absolutely the worst for those who lost their lives and their families. I've been praying for them.

 

[HitchHiker71]

I heard someone suggest using a floating bridge.
But that would still block shipping from the harbor.
However...
Looking at a map, it would seem that other ports,
such as Norfolk or NYC, would be good alternative.
.
.

That's already in progress - ships are already being rerouted - however there are logistics issues in play - such as the fact that these two ports cannot absorb the current volume of shipping and receiving activities from the Port of Baltimore - nor are they equipped to do so given ports tend to specialize in certain goods and services and have durable equipment designed specifically to handle certain goods and services. The Port of Baltimore for example, has become one of the primary ports on the eastern seaboard for both food and vehicles. Specific to vehicles - this port handles shipping for both the import of foreign made vehicles and export of American made vehicles - both consumer and commercial - over the past several decades. It remains to be seen what the long term impacts will be on certain supply chains if the port remains inaccessible.

 

[rapmarks]

I think it is a miracle that the police were able to clear that bridge of traffic in the little warning time available. They are heroes.
those poor workers!

 

[MULTIZ321]

Baltimore bridge: Massive US crane to haul wreckage after deadly collapse

Baltimore bridge: Massive US crane to haul wreckage after deadly collapse

The search for the bodies of four workers is on hold because of the dangers of diving among the debris.

www.bbc.co.uk

Richard

 

[Miss Marty]

2024
BALTIMORE - The Tugboat Crystal Coast, pushing a fuel barge, was the first vessel to move through the newly created temporary alternate channel in Baltimore following the collapse of the Key Bridge, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. It's headed to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware with jet fuel.

The emergency passageway - 264 feet wide and 11 feet deep - was cleared on Monday April 1, 2024 to allow essential vessels to pass along the Patapsco River around the mangled wreckage at the bridge disaster site.

MARINE SAFETY INFORMATION BULLETIN 036-24

Effective immediately a safety zone is established for all navigable waters of the Chesapeake Bay within a 2000-yard radius of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The 948-foot Singapore-flagged vessel DALI en route to Sri Lanka struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024.

https://homeport.uscg.mil/Lists/Content/Attachments/89471/MSIB%20036-24%20COTP%20Maryland-NCR%20Safety%20Zone%20Key%20Bridge.pdf

Started a thread in Tug Lounge for those that maybe interested
regarding the Francis Scott Key Bridge and Port of Baltimore .

Baltimore Key Bridge

2024 Key Bridge News https://mdta.maryland.gov/keybridgenews OFFICIAL SITE FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE RESPONSE This is a site dedicated to the handling of Key Bridge Response 2024. All information presented here is based on the available facts...

tugbbs.com

 

[MULTIZ321]

Baltimore Key bridge collapse: New 3D images show wreckage underwater as salvage operation
continues

Baltimore Key bridge collapse: New 3D images show wreckage underwater as salvage operation continues | Flipboard

New 3D images released by the U.S. Navy show the underwater wreckage of what was once the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

flipboard.com

Richard

 

[pedro47]

I'm just praying that the shipping lanes will be re-open within the next two (2) to three (3) weeks.

 

[MULTIZ321]

Salvage Operations Intensify to Clear Debris from Collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, MD, USA

https://flipboard.com/video/stringershub/6ce498af35

Richard

 

[Tia]

There is another news story , wonder how often this happens? https://nypost.com/2024/04/07/us-ne...dge-days-after-baltimore-key-bridge-disaster/

Has there been any mention of the container ship owners and insurance for the destroyed bridge in Baltimore?

 

[Tia]

FBI opens criminal investigation into Baltimore bridge collapse, AP source says

The FBI is conducting a criminal investigation into the deadly collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge that is focused on the circumstances leading up to it and whether all federal laws were followed, according to someone familiar with the matter. The person was not authorized to...

www.yahoo.com

FBI opens criminal investigation into Baltimore bridge collapse, AP source says​

 

[JudyH]

I drove over that bridge twice last summer. Gave me shivers cause it looked frail from the road.

 

[Tia]

I drove over that bridge twice last summer. Gave me shivers cause it looked frail from the road.

It was working fine for decades until a loaded huge barge ran into it . Guess there are no requirement to have harbor pilots accompany these barges.

 

[davidvel]

It was working fine for decades until a loaded huge barge ran into it . Guess there are no requirement to have harbor pilots accompany these barges.

There was a pilot on board. They needed a tugboat.