Quote:
Originally Posted by ShadowXOR
How safe are the bridges here? I take the Ship Canal Bridge to work every day (just moved here) and it is of the same construction as the bridge that collapsed. Now I'm nervous going over it every day. I know the odds are in my favor that I'll be fine but I'm curious what kind of shape the Ship Canal Bridge is in. I've heard the Viaduct is practically ready to fall over right now but that's the only one I've ever heard specific mention of.
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According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, 26% of Washington's Bridges have structural deficiencies.
Infrastructure Report Card 2005
I try not to worry about this too much, because there's not much we can do about it - the public hates to pay taxes and maintaining infrastructure costs lots of money. But I think nationwide and locally we do a pretty poor job. I know that in Seattle, both the 520 and the viaduct are knowingly high at risk in any kind of stress (earthquake/wind storms/etc).
Kinda scary stuff.
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Seattle bridges and the Minnesota collapse.
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