Rush hour, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Aug. 1, 2007
The I-35 West Bridge collapsed in rush hour on August 1, 2007.
Rescuers rushed to the scene. Poppyseed Bandit cc
This Minneapolis bridge collapsed at rush hour. Thirteen died, over 100 were injured, and the city was stunned. The National Transportation Safety Board found that poor design and neglectful maintenance were the culprits in the easily avoidable tragedy.
"More than 26%, or one in four, of the nation's bridges are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. While some progress has been made in recent years to reduce the number of deficient and obsolete bridges in rural areas, the number in urban areas is rising. A $17 billion annual investment is needed to substantially improve current bridge conditions. Currently, only $10.5 billion is spent annually on the construction and maintenance of bridges." ACSE
Here today, gone soon. A likely dam collapse.
Wolf Creek Dam, near Manntown, Kentucky jenniferrt66 cc
This dam tops the list of "most likely to collapse soon." The Wolf Creek Dam borders southern Kentucky and Northern Tennessee. Its design virtually guarantees a collapse. The response: "We estimated a range somewhere between about 50 and 120 people, the loss of life -- people who live downstream, and possibly fishermen or campers that may be down there," (the Army Corps of Engineers) tells CBS
The Senators from Kentucky must think that neglect will somehow save this structure.
"As dam's age and downstream development increases, the number of deficient dams has risen to more than 4,000, including 1,819 high hazard potential dams. Over the past six years, for every deficient, high hazard potential dam repaired, nearly two more were declared deficient. There are more than 85,000 dams in the U.S., and the average age is just over 51 years old." ACSE
Not enough roads, too many cars and the "Metro" is empty
Washington, DC area traffic can be a nightmare even on a "parkway." With the traffic at stand still for hours a day, the Metro trains rarely get a chance to do their job and relieve the congestion. Images - Left, haddensavix cc, Right Danny McL cc
How long does it take you to get to work? In the Washington, DC area, it can take 90 minute to go 20 miles at rush hour. The high way system is, in essence, a slightly mobile parking lot. This jacks up pollution, drains fuel efficiency, and frustrates a lot of people. The DC areas is not alone. New York City, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and Atlanta are all competing for the worst traffic in the Western hemisphere.
"Americans spend 4.2 billion hours a year stuck in traffic at a cost to the economy of $78.2 billion, or $710 per motorist. Poor road conditions cost motorists $67 billion a year in repairs and operating costs, and cost 14,000 Americans their lives. One-third of America's major roads are in poor or mediocre condition and 36% of major urban highways are congested. The current spending level of $70.3 billion per year for highway capital improvements is well below the estimated $186 billion needed annually to substantially improve the nation's highways." ACSE
Levees are in bad shape, but nobody knows just how bad.
