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Container ship loses power brings down major bridge.

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As long as we're on the subject of "not a structural engineer" and stupidity-

From X, formerly known as Twitter

Elon Musk-"If you reuse the truss steel that fell, it could be functioning in 3 to 6 months.

The repair should be put to commercial bid with a massive incentive for early and safe completion."
9:31 PM · Mar 29, 2024
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816.4K
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Pick the most qualified Design - Build Company and get their price. Just oversee plans and no permits - Build it.

Sort of like how they did the overpass in LA. The whole bid and permit process takes way to long!!
 
The problem with "make it competitive it'll be faster" is that bridge design has evolved quite a bit since the 1960s when this thing was likely designed so just rebuilding what was there isn't going to be an option. It's also a significantly more complicated design challenge than a freeway overpass or even the connector ramp in the 880 maze that had to be replaced due to a truck fire

Elon isn't wrong about reusing the steel he just forgot to mention it needs to be recycled into new material that hasn't undergone unknown plastic deformation
 
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Agree about recycling steel to offset costs but truss designs have their flaws. Additionally, ships have grown significantly larger in the past 60 years and the new bridge needs to have safeguards in place. Large offset dolphins and fendered rails around supports.

Personally, I cringe every time I cross the Richmond Bridge. The concrete spalling on the bridge supports is terrifying. Add that to the bridge spanning 2 tectonic plates, ripping currents, and a narrow slot for the big ships headed up into the interior. :wtf

Remind me to post pictures, and you too will hesitate before crossing.
 
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i suspect the new bridge won't have any supports in a depth of water that would allow a ship of that size anywhere near them, even before getting to the fenders it would be hard aground.

aside from the new benicia bridge span, martinez bridge new span and east span of the bay bridge all of the bay bridges structures are slightly miraculous that they are still standing. golden gate and bay bridges are 91 years old. that's kinda nuts for a steel structure in a corrosive environment
 
auntiebling said:
i suspect the new bridge won't have any supports in a depth of water that would allow a ship of that size anywhere near them, even before getting to the fenders it would be hard aground.

aside from the new benicia bridge span, martinez bridge new span and east span of the bay bridge all of the bay bridges structures are slightly miraculous that they are still standing. golden gate and bay bridges are 91 years old. that's kinda nuts for a steel structure in a corrosive environment
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Don’t forget the 20 year old I80 Carquinez bridge
 
Here is one of the bridge supports on the Richmond San Rafael Bridge. This is just one, they all look like this to some degree, some are worse and some are better.

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That's a bit scary actually...

I'm not a bridge inspector or a structural engineer but that seems bad regardless.
 
That should terrify you!
 
Good thing I cross the Richmond/San Rafael bridge eight times a week...
 
Bubba_s said:
Good thing I cross the Richmond/San Rafael bridge eight times a week...
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They performed a big refit on this bridge a few years back. I don't think the real issue (oxide jacking) was addressed. You can't just glue the spalling concrete back into place.
Absolutely no feedback from them when the pictures were emailed.
 
Remember when bridge tolls went up significantly 'to fund replacement of Bay Bridge'? They were supposed to be only long enough to fund Bay Bridge.....I'm glad that they're putting the added $$$$$$$$$$$ to good use fixing the other bridges. :nchantr

I wonder where all of that extra money is going now? I'll bet salaries are way up..
 
For sure the rusting rebar is an issue. Seimic strength will go down and down over time as the rust creeps behind concrete where you cannot even see it.

Those tolls and stuff are a shell game.. we need this for a while and the while never ends.
 
Infrastructure is not cheap, especially bridges. They do not last forever.
 
budman said:
Those tolls and stuff are a shell game.. we need this for a while and the while never ends.
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The toll on the Maple Street bridge in Spokane was set up to pay for the bridge in 1958. When I was a kid in the 80s, the bridge was paid off and the city was looking on what else they could use the money for.

A group sued and won, because the toll was only supposed to pay for the bridge and it was set up that way in the charter, any other use was ruled unconstitutional.

The toll was then removed. Win :teeth
 
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