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"The bridge is now approaching its 16th year of duty beyond its initially projected retirement date back in 1993. In 1997, the state Department of Transportation estimated that the useful life of the bridge was only seven more years. That deadline came and went in 2004 with no definitive action on a replacement"
"According to NCDOT (Raleigh Office), an average 5,100 vehicles crossed the Oregon Inlet Bridge daily in 2006."
Washington State Ferries operates the most extensive ferry system in the United States, with ten routes on Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca serving terminals in Washington and Vancouver Island. In fiscal year 1999, Washington State Ferries carried 11 million vehicles and 26 million passengers.
"The department also required that the teams add special mineral and chemical mixtures to the concrete used to build the bridge to increase its durability. With these factors, NCDOT expects the new bridge to last more than 100 years."
Be careful of an agenda. Facts mean nothing unless it supports the cause. Be careful of an inflated ego often displayed as intellect. It must always be considered correct and will do whatever it must do to be thought of as correct. Combine ego and agenda and you have something very, very dangerous.
Whether its this bridge, inlet, turtles, gill nets whatever-I highly encourage anyone concerned about an issue to get the facts. Not just news stories or Google searches. And at all times-Consider the source.
Last edited by Bill Hitchcock; 09-27-2011 at 06:27 AM..
Another interesting fact. The Oregon Inlet bridge handles 1.8 million vehicles a year. The entire NC Ferry system with its 21 ferries and 400 workers only transports 1.1 million vehicles. NCDOT: Ferry Division
Can a ferry system handle an average of 5,000 vehicles a day? (Up to 10,000 vehicles a day during peak season.)
The Staten Island Ferry provides 20 million people a year (60,000 passengers a day not including weekend days) with ferry service between St. George on Staten Island and Whitehall Street in lower Manhattan.A typical weekday schedule involves the use of five boats to transport approximately 60,000 passengers daily (109 daily trips). During the day, between rush hours, boats are regularly fueled and maintenance work is performed. Terminals are cleaned around the clock and routine terminal maintenance is performed on the day shift. On weekends, three boats are used (75 trips each Saturday and 68 trips each Sunday). Over 35,000 trips are made annually.
Now understand this is New York. I think that if they can handle this volume. The state could surely find a system that can handle that load. Note: Most of the ferries have been in service for decades. Making the cost long term worth the investment.
The fact is estimates are that. 100 years. Sure. Let me know what the yearly cost of maintaining this system will be. Does "IT" the bridge produce revenue directly. Is it self supporting? The answer is no. A ferry system properly designed can and will produce revenue to be self maintained. New bridge 215.??? some million to build. Then maintaining cost as it ages. Hey 15 million just to get the one we have to last a few more years. How much has it cost to maintain over the years??? A ferry system is the answer. There are examples in other countries and here is the US. It takes people willing to accept change and not the same old thing. Just like turtles, gill nets and the like. Accepting what is fact is hard. You can if you are willing.
[quote=Bill Hitchcock;21050098]"...the new bridge to last more than 100 years."
Between 1846 and 1989, Oregon Inlet migrated approximately 2 miles south of its original location. In 1962-1963 the Oregon Inlet Bridge was built, but the inlet continued to migrate causing the throat channel to migrate from under the fixed navigation span and Pea Island to be almost severed from the bridge. Consequently, inlet dredging was increased to preserve the navigation channel; a rock jetty was emplaced on the south bank in 1989-1991, and a rock revetment was emplaced around the south base of the bridge to prevent further migration. However, the constrained location of the south bank, and the continued southward spit growth on the north bank caused Oregon Inlet to narrow and deepen. The narrower throat channel resulted in rapid scour beneath the central bridge pilings. As a result, rocks were emplaced beneath the free-hanging pilings.
It has been well understood for decades by coastal scientists that placement of rock jetties generally starve the littoral drift of sand to the south resulting in narrowing and shifting westward of the southern barrier island and this effect may continue for up to 10 miles. Is this a possible contributor to the breakthrough on Pea Island?
"The department also required that the teams add special mineral and chemical mixtures to the concrete used to build the bridge to increase its durability. With these factors, NCDOT expects the new bridge to last more than 100 years."
Be careful of an agenda. Facts mean nothing unless it supports the cause. Be careful of an inflated ego often displayed as intellect. It must always be considered correct and will do whatever it must do to be thought of as correct. Combine ego and agenda and you have something very, very dangerous.
Whether its this bridge, inlet, turtles, gill nets whatever-I highly encourage anyone concerned about an issue to get the facts. Not just news stories or Google searches. And at all times-Consider the source.
Has storms been taken into account in the 100 year projection?
I have NEVER seen a gov't prediction come true.
When the road keeps washing out due to storms is it financial responsible to keep paying out millions, probably billions, over the years, for road and bridge repair?
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No advocacy; just data…
