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Bridge collapses put transportation agencies’ emergency plans to the test
news.movim.eu / ArsTechnica · Tuesday, 26 March - 17:12
A container ship rammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore around 1:30 am on March 26, 2024, causing a portion of the bridge to collapse into Baltimore Harbor. Officials called the event a mass casualty and were searching for people in the waters of the busy port.
This event occurred less than a year after a portion of Interstate 95 collapsed in north Philadelphia during a truck fire. That disaster was initially expected to snarl traffic for months, but a temporary six-lane roadway was constructed in 12 days to serve motorists while a permanent overpass was rebuilt.
US cities often face similar challenges when routine wear and tear , natural disasters , or major accidents damage roads and bridges. Transportation engineer Lee D. Han explains how planners, transit agencies, and city governments anticipate and manage these disruptions.