Bridge Collapse in Washington

[mrkajz44]

If a semi-truck was hitting girders as it was driving on the bridge (according to reports at this time), then can the blame fall on failing infrastructure? Pretty sure a newer / maintained bridge would still fail if its girders were being bashed around by a semi-truck.

Just seems like everyone is getting on the "failing infrastrcutre" boat when this likely never happens without the semi hitting the support beams.

[seattleflamer]

I've crossed that bridge hundreds of times without knowing it--very non descript.

Canadian/Alberta angle to the story is the oversize semi that clipped the steel trusses had Alberta plates according to the local NBC affiliate.

That trucking company better have a lot of insurance.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Bridge already removed from google maps.

If you drop the guy right before the bridge you can still street view over it.

[Temporary_User]

Damn Albertans!

http://globalnews.ca/news/587470/alberta-truck-driver-struck-collapsed-washington-state-bridge/

Alberta truck driver caused Washington State Bridge collapse

[nik-]

First we take their milk, now we take their bridges.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

Damn Albertans!

http://globalnews.ca/news/587470/alberta-truck-driver-struck-collapsed-washington-state-bridge/

Edmonton to be clear, Stupid Edmonton

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/05...eople-rescued/

[nik-]

If a truck hit a bridge girder, and the damage to the truck was light enough that he could just carry on, and the bridge collapses ... that's still a ####ty bridge.

[seattleflamer]

Originally Posted by nik-

If a truck hit a bridge girder, and the damage to the truck was light enough that he could just carry on, and the bridge collapses ... that's still a ####ty bridge.

Hundreds of thousands of semis go over that bridge a year, that is still a ####ty driver.

[Tinordi]

67,000 bridges in the U.S. require maintenance...

Quick cut taxes!

[nik-]

Originally Posted by seattleflamer

Hundreds of thousands of semis go over that bridge a year, that is still a ####ty driver.

This is also true.

[MelBridgeman]

Would anyone think of the hipsters?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

Would anyone think of the hipsters?

I can't believe it took Bridgeman so long to comment.....

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

If a semi-truck was hitting girders as it was driving on the bridge (according to reports at this time), then can the blame fall on failing infrastructure? Pretty sure a newer / maintained bridge would still fail if its girders were being bashed around by a semi-truck.

Just seems like everyone is getting on the "failing infrastrcutre" boat when this likely never happens without the semi hitting the support beams.

The bridge is an old outdated design. A modern bridge would have built in redundancy.

"I think you can see with this bridge that if it had been built today, it would have been built to different design standards to make sure that there were accommodations for the kind of traffic that we're seeing today," Hersman said.
The Skagit River bridge, built in 1955, is designed without the redundancy built into many modern bridges; serious damage to one of the two main trusses could cause it to collapse, said Jiri Pertold, a senior bridge engineer with David Evans and Associates in Bellevue, Wash.
"Modern bridges, they would be designed to have more things damaged before the bridge would collapse," he said.

So as you say this bridge just didn't collapse because of failing infrastructure, but there are bridges in disrepair or have design flaws that are ready to collapse, as did the bridge in Minnesota.

[hwy19man]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Bridge already removed from google maps.

It is surprising that Mapquest has not followed.

[hwy19man]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Fortunately, it looks like a detour route is going to be fairly simple, however, there's still going to be traffic nightmares.

Yes, the routes are simple and you are correct, the traffic congestion is horrible.

Here is the official link to the detours which are up to date.

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Construction.../detourmap.htm

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Never understood why there wasn't a massive investment in infrastructure construction during the recession, low borrowing costs, high unemployment, and crumbling infrastructure.

Obama ran on that very platform in 2008.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by hwy19man

It is surprising that Mapquest has not followed.

It's more surprising that mapquest still exists

[Josh]

Glad I don't have any planned trips to Vancouver anytime soon.