Ace of Spades HQ

September 28, 2013

Fresh Hell: The Stuff of Nightmares
— Open Blogger

I have lived in Florida my entire life and have accepted that, in Jacksonville, you can't get anywhere without crossing one bridge or another. This particular bridge, the Matthews, has been trouble since the beginning.

The bridge, until just a couple of years ago, had a very slick grating which, with the slightest rain, would send cars spinning out of control. More than one friend has totaled a car at the top of it. Worse, it is situated atop a shipyard, meaning that ships of all size pass underneath it on a regular basis. There are some, such as myself, who avoid it at all costs because we recollect, with frightening clarity, this particular nightmare...

On a rainy day in May, some 33 years ago, a ship lost her way and thirty-five men and women lost their lives.

I won't say much because the horror speaks for itself. It is indelibly etched into my mind and, although the bridge has been rebuilt with numerous safety mechanisms in place, the few times I have crossed it have left me white knuckled and at a loss for breath.

Here in Jax, it has been reported that the Matthews Bridge will now be monitored for future signs of collapse resulting from this recent impact. That will come as little comfort to the thousands of commuters who cross the bridge on a daily basis.

To those who remember the Sunshine Skyway disaster, a few extra miles in the commute will prove well worth it.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 04:01 PM | Comments (235)
Post contains 265 words, total size 2 kb.

1 25th!

Posted by: buzzion at September 28, 2013 04:06 PM (LI48c)

2 I'll bet Democrats built that bridge

Posted by: Beto at September 28, 2013 04:07 PM (MhA4j)

3 That bridge scares the hell out of me.

Posted by: Florida State alum at September 28, 2013 04:08 PM (Rk8LS)

4 He went back to get the golf clubs?! I guess you just don't think clearly in an emergency sometimes.

Posted by: no good deed at September 28, 2013 04:09 PM (k55Fc)

5 He went back to get the golf clubs?! I guess you just don't think clearly in an emergency sometimes. *** I might well have been frozen in terror inside the car, afraid to get out. I can't imagine going back to the scene.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 04:12 PM (DmNpO)

6 http://tinyurl.com/pwotcs2

Leo Frigo Bridge here in Green Bay.... how many other similar things going on around the nation?

Posted by: patriotWI at September 28, 2013 04:12 PM (9knzo)

I've almost tossed a motorcycle on that bridge many many times back in the day

I was sober too

Posted by: navycopjoe at September 28, 2013 04:15 PM (HED0H)

8 'll bet Democrats built that bridge
George W Bush and the Sequester knocked it down.

Posted by: fluffy at September 28, 2013 04:16 PM (z9HTb)

9 Leo Frigo Bridge here in Green Bay.... how many other similar things going on around the nation? *** WTH? Sinkhole? Two feet is a lot in a short amount of time.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 04:16 PM (DmNpO)

10 Imma gon finish reading the article later. Let me just say, no fucking way in hell is a bridge engineer named "Adel El Safety." This is some kind of El Arian plot.

Who, in the goddamned hell, would hire him? Who would be willing to have that name signed on the completion papers?

Posted by: Stringer Davis at September 28, 2013 04:17 PM (JNUY4)

11 I've almost tossed a motorcycle on that bridge many many times back in the day I was sober too *** Which bridge?

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 04:17 PM (DmNpO)

12 OK, so we build a giant crane to lift the cars one by one ....

Posted by: Adriane... at September 28, 2013 04:17 PM (6TfRc)

13 6 Sounds like a job for Shovel Man! Shovel Man...a mild mannered professor of constitutional law with his hand in the public till and spreading the wealth with shovel ready projects..

Posted by: Beto at September 28, 2013 04:18 PM (MhA4j)

they should rename it the senate bridge

cause most of those pussies are missing their member too

Posted by: navycopjoe at September 28, 2013 04:18 PM (HED0H)

15 NDH - The sis lives in San Marco. She said there was gridlock like you couldn't believe ... Take care and drive patiently.

Posted by: Adriane... at September 28, 2013 04:19 PM (6TfRc)

11 i'm pretty sure the Matthews

I had to get over it to get to a bar called the Zoo from mayport

I drank a lot back then, I was work to strip bar to bar to strip bar to work, rinse repeat

Posted by: navycopjoe at September 28, 2013 04:20 PM (HED0H)

17 NDH, I gotta tell ya, I've lived my whole life here, I've driven that bridge hundreds upon hundreds of times and never felt unsafe or had a problem. The old grating from a couple years ago wasn't great, but I never saw the big deal.

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at September 28, 2013 04:21 PM (GEICT)

18 The sis lives in San Marco. She said there was gridlock like you couldn't believe ... Take care and drive patiently. *** There's an enormous amount of traffic which takes that bridge which is now being diverted. There is a Jaguar game tomorrow and the bridge connects a large part of the city to the stadium. But, it's the Jaguars, so... not that many people will be affected.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 04:22 PM (DmNpO)

19 NDH, I gotta tell ya, I've lived my whole life here, I've driven that bridge hundreds upon hundreds of times and never felt unsafe or had a problem. The old grating from a couple years ago wasn't great, but I never saw the big deal. *** There are lots of people who feel like you but I've fishtailed on that grate and had two friends spin out on the top. The record of crashes on that bridge is why they were finally forced to upgrade the grate.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 04:23 PM (DmNpO)

oh, everyone watch out for AtC

she's gonna have an Indiangasm

Posted by: navycopjoe at September 28, 2013 04:24 PM (HED0H)

I've driven across the bridge to Coronado Island from downtown San Diego. It's a white-knuckled commute all the way.

There was a bridge collapse a couple of years ago in Texas - between the mainland and a barrier island - Matagorda or Galveston, can't recall at this time. But the thing that has stayed with me all this time, is that the people in one of the cars which sank into the relatively shallow water, survived because they were in an older car/truck with manual windows.

My current car is all electric, which is fantastic in most circumstances ... even an electrically adjustable driver's seat. (Hurrah, hurrah!) But thinking of this - my daughter bought a pair of one of those emergency tools which incorporates a hammer to bash out auto-glass, and a blade to cut seatbelts. I keep mine in the door-pocket of my car. Better to have and never need, than to need and not have, eh?

Posted by: Sgt. Mom at September 28, 2013 04:24 PM (Asjr7)

22 bridges are a crap shoot, even in well run places such as mn sometimes they are "boom" gone.

Posted by: yankeefifth at September 28, 2013 04:25 PM (Z9EHQ)

23 Up here, Estes Park is still basically isolated by that flood we had. It used to take, what, 45 minutes from here. Now it's three hours.

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at September 28, 2013 04:26 PM (d7tB2)

24 There are lots of people who feel like you but I've fishtailed on that grate and had two friends spin out on the top. The record of crashes on that bridge is why they were finally forced to upgrade the grate. Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 08:23 PM (DmNpO) Yeah, I don't get it. I've gone across the top of that bridge in every weather condition we have around here. (Obv not a hurricane) Never an issue. And if I remember, they replaced the grating and it was the new grating that was the problem. After a few years of constant complaints they replaced it again. But that could just be my memory.

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at September 28, 2013 04:26 PM (GEICT)

25 FL is the Australia of America! My hubby doesn't appreciate my Causeway-Bridge FL stories. I bet there are clowns and spiders too.

Posted by: osoloco at September 28, 2013 04:26 PM (R5JSa)

Gravity is a cruel mistress.

Posted by: garrett at September 28, 2013 04:26 PM (s2XBm)

27 And if I remember, they replaced the grating and it was the new grating that was the problem. After a few years of constant complaints they replaced it again. But that could just be my memory. *** The grate was a problem from the time it was built and prior attempts to fix it didn't work until this last time.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 04:27 PM (DmNpO)

28 FL is the Australia of America! alligators look like salty crocs ...

Posted by: Adriane... at September 28, 2013 04:27 PM (6TfRc)

29 OT, but Sheila Jackson Lee, screaming: The elderly will be forced to buy dog food over getting their prescriptions filled.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 04:28 PM (DmNpO)

30 god news is that with improved navigation aids odds of accidental ship bridge collisions are decreasing. I suppose bad news is next collision is probably terrorism.

Posted by: yankeefifth at September 28, 2013 04:28 PM (Z9EHQ)

31 Yeah, per Wiki... The bridge had a notoriously problematic grating in the center span. After the previous grating wore out, a new one was installed, causing drivers to complain that the replacement was slippery and difficult to cross. That grating was replaced with a new, "state of the art" grating, which also provoked controversy causing citizens to pressure the Jacksonville City Council to act again concerning the grating. This initially only resulted in reducing the speed limit and roughing up the grating. In 2007, the bridge underwent construction to replace the open grating over the center span with a concrete riding surface, and has since been reopened for public use.

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at September 28, 2013 04:28 PM (GEICT)

32 After 15 years in CA suppressing the possibility that I could be on or under an overpass when a Northridge or Bay Area quake could hit at any time, I have no qualms crossing the Sunshine Skyway when driving up to St Pete or Tampa

Want interesting? Try the George Washington Bridge on a day with heavy winds

Posted by: kbdabear at September 28, 2013 04:29 PM (aTXUx)

"I won't say much because the horror speaks for itself. It is indelibly etched into my mind and, although the bridge has been rebuilt with numerous safety mechanisms in place, the few times I have crossed it have left me white knuckled and at a loss for breath."

I drove over the Sunshine Skyway bridge for the first, and last time in 1995. As I was looking up at the tall support spans I all of a sudden got vertigo, or something like it. I can't explain why, but I had an overwhelming desire to drive off the bridge and thought I was going to crush my steering wheel I was gripping it so hard. Absolutely freaked me out.

Posted by: ExSnipe at September 28, 2013 04:30 PM (57ubW)

34 Gravity is a cruel mistress. *** We need gravity control and maybe a gravity tax.

Posted by: WalrusRex at September 28, 2013 04:30 PM (PjgvN)

35 OT, but Sheila Jackson Lee, screaming: The elderly will be forced to buy dog food over getting their prescriptions filled. Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse she is understandably upset, the added competition is going to drive food prices up for her.

Posted by: yankeefifth at September 28, 2013 04:30 PM (Z9EHQ)

36 There's a vicious rumour going around the Houston area that Sheila Jackson Lee just ain't all that bright.

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at September 28, 2013 04:31 PM (d7tB2)

37 You can add bridge inspection and the routing of shipping to the complicated tasks that only government can do, that you can't trust government to do, because they're too complicated. Not that they don't collect the fees to do it, they just don't do it.

It's a matter of national highway policy that all truss bridges are unsafe because "obsolete" even if they are over non-navigable waterways. Some of them are really pretty, and they all pass their exams, but, you know. We will be paying trillions for this project. And every time a truss bridge gets nicked, instead of inspecting them carefully and being very careful about engineering the repair, they'll go for publicity, and tack on some shitty steel from China. Like San Francisco/Oakland, you know.

Even when government causes the shortcoming, and a further government fuckup actually triggers the damage, only More Government can cure this.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at September 28, 2013 04:31 PM (JNUY4)

38 Lots of people can cross bridges without a second thought, I think fear of heights plays in there

I know people who palpitate if they have to travel tunnels of any length due to claustrophobia or fear of being buried alive

Posted by: kbdabear at September 28, 2013 04:34 PM (aTXUx)

39 Gravity should be available to all Americans regardless of age, race or socio-economic status.

Posted by: Emil Faber at September 28, 2013 04:35 PM (FMNSK)

40 Posted by: Sgt. Mom at September 28, 2013 08:24 PM (Asjr7) It was the causeway between the mainland and South Padre Island. A barge hit it and knocked out a section. One lucky thing was that it happened at a low traffic time. it happened a few days after 9-11, so didn't get much national attention. For months there was no other way to get to the island, so they set up a temporary ferry. Good point on the windows. Everyone should have those window breaker dealies.

Posted by: stace NOW what?! at September 28, 2013 04:36 PM (DX63t)

41 Good point on the windows. Everyone should have those window breaker dealies. Posted by: stace NOW forehead?

Posted by: yankeefifth at September 28, 2013 04:37 PM (Z9EHQ)

42 I like driving visitors across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. About halfway across I casually say "Remember that film in high school physics about that bridge that collapsed in a high wind? This is the replacement."

My mother was living in Seattle when that happened.

Posted by: Steve Skubinna at September 28, 2013 04:37 PM (JiFy+)

43 I had a temporary ferry once and he wound up opening a prostitution service in the basement of my townhouse.

Posted by: Barney Frank at September 28, 2013 04:37 PM (FMNSK)

44 Every time I drove over the 14th St bridge in DC, my passengers would get panic attacks

I never understood that

Posted by: Ted Kennedy at September 28, 2013 04:37 PM (aTXUx)

45 Imagine what it was like for the folks on the Matthews when that ship struck the span. Sheer panic, I would imagine.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 04:37 PM (DmNpO)

46 When I was a kid we had to cross an old bridge that swayed to get to the highway. My mom would wait til all the cars went across before she drove on it, with traffic honking at her the whole while.

Posted by: Justamom at September 28, 2013 04:38 PM (Sptt8)

47 I like driving visitors across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. About halfway across I casually say "Remember that film in high school physics about that bridge that collapsed in a high wind? This is the replacement." *** The dog died. Sad.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 04:38 PM (DmNpO)

48 You can add bridge inspection and the routing of shipping to the complicated tasks that only government can do, that you can't trust government to do, because they're too complicated. Not that they don't collect the fees to do it, they just don't do it.

Lack of inspection was a major contributing factor to the collapse of the Mianus River Bridge on I-95 in 1983 (the other was rust caused by crappy CT weather and the failure of two pin and hanger assemblies). Three people were killed when their cars went off the bridge; the only reason the death toll didn't approach Sunshine Skyway proportions was that the bridge collapsed at 1:30 a.m. rather than rush hour.

Posted by: Basement Cat at September 28, 2013 04:39 PM (3zyAE)

49 Anybody who can drive the Mackinac Bridge in the winter months without fear of being blown into Lake Superior probably can ace the other bridges

Posted by: kbdabear at September 28, 2013 04:40 PM (aTXUx)

50 I like driving visitors across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. About halfway across I casually say "Remember that film in high school physics about that bridge that collapsed in a high wind? This is the replacement."

***

That footage was later used in this awesome car stereo commercial:

http://youtu.be/7_mccjAnCOk

Posted by: cool arrow at September 28, 2013 04:41 PM (WMsq+)

51 Sixth day of a damn sore throat,not real bad,just annoying.Think it's allergy.

Posted by: steevy at September 28, 2013 04:42 PM (9XBK2)

52 I worked with a guy who was scared to cross bridges. He was mocked. Good surveyor though.

Posted by: nip at September 28, 2013 04:43 PM (jI23+)

53 Sixth day of a damn sore throat,not real bad,just annoying.Think it's allergy. *** feel better!

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 04:43 PM (DmNpO)

54 Top men driving those Navy ships. Top freaking men.

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at September 28, 2013 04:44 PM (9MLX+)

55 What's the name of the ship that hit the bridge?

Any pics of it?

From the video I get:

A Navy ship with an extended ramp -- which made it 10 feet taller -- was the culprit. The ramp hit the bridge. Everybody is lucky to be alive.

Did I miss anything?

Posted by: Ed Anger at September 28, 2013 04:44 PM (tOkJB)

56 The new Bay Bridge in SF sucks. Whole thing should have been non-suspension, and on budget.

Posted by: nip at September 28, 2013 04:45 PM (jI23+)

57 51 - squeeze a half lemon into a mug, add a spoonful of honey, fill about a third with bourbon, and top with hot water.

After a couple, if it doesn't work you don't care anyway.

Posted by: Steve Skubinna at September 28, 2013 04:45 PM (JiFy+)

58 When the Northridge Earthquake hit, it was 5:17 in the morning in January, still dark

There were two or three vehicles on the 14 freeway that hit a sudden wide open space where a large section of an overpass broke off

Then, imagine those poor SOBs on the lower deck of the 880 Freeway at rush hour back on Oct 17, 1989

Posted by: kbdabear at September 28, 2013 04:46 PM (aTXUx)

59 Factiod: 1/3 of the original railroad bridges build in the 1800's collapsed in use. It was a major scandal in the press of the day. Hundreds and hundreds of people were killed in the collapses.

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at September 28, 2013 04:46 PM (9MLX+)

60 29 OT, but Sheila Jackson Lee, screaming: The elderly will be forced to buy dog food over getting their prescriptions filled.
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 08:28 PM (DmNpO)
I'll substitute Alpo for Lipitor.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at September 28, 2013 04:47 PM (Rla3K)

61 What's the name of the ship that hit the bridge?

USS Career Ender

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at September 28, 2013 04:47 PM (9MLX+)

62 That guy who wrote the book "How to Avoid Large Ships" that brought hilarious comments on Amazon should have written a sequel "How to Avoid Large Bridges"

Posted by: kbdabear at September 28, 2013 04:48 PM (aTXUx)

63 Bridge built. Water under, not so much. Collapse under own weight, almost certain. That's how we do it in Cali

Posted by: cal-trans charles at September 28, 2013 04:48 PM (V+Pei)

64 USNS 1st. Lt. Harry L. Martin

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at September 28, 2013 04:48 PM (GEICT)

65 What's the name of the ship that hit the bridge? Any pics of it? *** USNS 1st LT Harry L. Martin You can see it at 2:39 in the vid

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 04:50 PM (DmNpO)

66 The Oakland Bay Bridge is to be avoided like the plague from what I've read. Especially that replacement span they just finished. Oh, and agree that the Coronado Bay bridge is scary as all hell.

Posted by: bebe's boobs destroy at September 28, 2013 04:50 PM (lg+L/)

67 yelling on the floor

Posted by: willow at September 28, 2013 04:50 PM (nqBYe)

68 The Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel is a twofer for those people both afraid of bridges and tunnels that go underwater..... like my wife. Probably the longest 1/2 hour of her life. I made it worse by stopping at the rest area/ trinket shop in the middle.

Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at September 28, 2013 04:50 PM (jucos)

69 The House is getting rowdy

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 04:51 PM (DmNpO)

70 64 - that's a Military Sealift Command prepositioning ship crewed by contract mariners. Usually they go to Blount Island. This one must have been going to a shipyard if she was passing under that bridge.

Posted by: Steve Skubinna at September 28, 2013 04:51 PM (JiFy+)

71 yeah, Republicans are shutting down the govt!

fgs

Posted by: willow at September 28, 2013 04:51 PM (nqBYe)

72 The old bridge in Charleston was fun, esp. when someone in front of you spazzed from vertigo and had to have their car driven to the bottom. More then once I trotted out into traffic in my spiffy cadet whites and drove some old lady to the base.

Posted by: Jean at September 28, 2013 04:51 PM (CMlD4)

73 My father was on the Staten Island Ferry when it collided with a ship in a fog.He was unhurt but his friend broke his leg.I would not want to be on the car deck when that happened,they don't carry cars any ore though.

Posted by: steevy at September 28, 2013 04:52 PM (9XBK2)

74 The Oakland Bay Bridge is to be avoided like the plague from what I've read. Especially that replacement span they just finished. Oh, and agree that the Coronado Bay bridge is scary as all hell. *** I've taken the Coronado Bay Bridge but I was in a tour bus, so it didn't bother me too much.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 04:52 PM (DmNpO)

75 she sure likes to yell

Posted by: willow at September 28, 2013 04:52 PM (nqBYe)

76 and stiffing our creditors.

Posted by: willow at September 28, 2013 04:53 PM (nqBYe)

77 Passenger jet crash, bridge collapse, tunnel collapse, earthquake, tornado, what are the odds?

Hell, you can get drafted into the military during time of war where thousands are dying and spend the entire war driving a forklift in a warehouse somewhere. What are the odds?

Posted by: What? Me worry? at September 28, 2013 04:53 PM (O/QRB)

78 69 The House is getting rowdy Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 08:51 PM (DmNpO) Bout fucking time. I'd rather our's looked like some of the clips you see of the Asian assemblies. Show me you care. If you're not willing to throw down over it, it's not important to you.

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at September 28, 2013 04:53 PM (GEICT)

79 Yeah,those aren't crewed by regular Navy.

Posted by: steevy at September 28, 2013 04:53 PM (9XBK2)

80 78-Knuckle Sandwiches, it's what's for dinner.

Posted by: nip at September 28, 2013 04:54 PM (jI23+)

81 I've lived in Jax since the mid 70's and driven on the Matthews with the godawful grating. Refused to drive over until it was fixed. I don't think I'll ever drive over it again.

Posted by: The Notorious M.E.G. at September 28, 2013 04:54 PM (jYDIW)

82 The old bridge in Charleston was fun, esp. when someone in front of you spazzed from vertigo and had to have their car driven to the bottom. More then once I trotted out into traffic in my spiffy cadet whites and drove some old lady to the base. **** My ex-boyfriend, then a state trooper, had bridge duty at the Skyway bridge. His entire shift, for a while, was to drive back and forth over the bridge. His primary problem was dealing with accidents in the heavy fog. The other was that folks would get to the top and completely freeze up and he would have to get them, and their cars, off the bridge.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 04:55 PM (DmNpO)

83 Driving on the coronado bay bridge while they have the machine changing lanes on you was always one of the best rides ever. A don't miss for sure

Posted by: cal-trans charles at September 28, 2013 04:55 PM (V+Pei)

84 There were two or three vehicles on the 14 freeway that hit a sudden wide open space where a large section of an overpass broke off Plus a motor officer drive off it. Scary way to go.

Posted by: bebe's boobs destroy at September 28, 2013 04:55 PM (lg+L/)

85 The first metal RR bridges were iron. The railroads loved them because they couldn't burn. They could also carry lots of weight.

But iron is brittle and the iron bridges would fail and collapse without warning occasionally. Steel quickly replaced iron for bridge building because of that. Iron bridges were built for a short time span and there only a few left in the world.

Posted by: Ed Anger at September 28, 2013 04:55 PM (tOkJB)

86 I was unfamiliar with Pete Sessions until today but, damn! This guy is great.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 04:55 PM (DmNpO)

87 The votes are going down now.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 04:56 PM (DmNpO)

88 15 minutes.

Posted by: willow at September 28, 2013 04:57 PM (nqBYe)

89 I made it worse by stopping at the rest area/ trinket shop in the middle. How many years before you got to have sex with her instead of yourself?

Posted by: bebe's boobs destroy at September 28, 2013 04:57 PM (lg+L/)

90 Fascinating story, although the writer apparently forgot to mention anything about the collision, if there was one. Context? We don't need stinkin' context. Here's a thing: cities wanting new bridges (Savannah, Charleston) purportedly pay a bar pilot to graze it. Payoff, rending of garments, new bridge. Et voila!

Posted by: Velociman at September 28, 2013 04:57 PM (RHu5C)

91 Which Potomac bridge was it that got struck by the Air Florida 737 in 1982? I believe 6 commuters stuck in traffic on the bridge were killed instantly

Posted by: kbdabear at September 28, 2013 04:58 PM (aTXUx)

92 The House is getting rowdy

When someone shows up with a hickory cane, I'll open YouTube.

Posted by: Jean at September 28, 2013 04:58 PM (CMlD4)

93 When George Washington was about to step down as President, he came to Carptenter's Hall in Philadelphia. Foreign diplomats expected Washington to be dead by the end of the day because they had never seen a peaceful turnover of power.

Perhaps those foreign diplomats were on to something.

How about having politicians, who lost and are force to step down, instead of getting a pension (more than we will ever see), how about we just execute them.

We would have to make it legal before doing it of course .. maybe like Obama makes thing legal.

Posted by: Sgt. Pinback at September 28, 2013 04:59 PM (e8kgV)

94 NDH, It's always surprised me that they decided to put up the Dame Point instead of replacing the Matthews. Of course they wouldn't have a nice 295 loop. I did the design for the Merrill Rd/Ft. Caroline interchange back in 1985.

Posted by: Pecan Scandi at September 28, 2013 05:00 PM (Uamfo)

95 Probably the highest risk of being on a bridge when it gives way is in New Jersey

Ancient bridges, heavy salting of roads, corrupt contracting, heavy traffic for beginners

Only a matter of time

Posted by: kbdabear at September 28, 2013 05:01 PM (aTXUx)

96 Jean, Maybe a copperhead on that cane?

Posted by: old crank at September 28, 2013 05:01 PM (V+Pei)

97 Sometimes callers into CPAN are quite stupid.

Posted by: Kreplach at September 28, 2013 05:01 PM (hmUex)

98 Sometimes callers into CPAN are quite stupid. **** Sometimes?

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 05:01 PM (DmNpO)

99 Which shock jock called Air Florida on air to ask about their next scheduled flight to the 14th Street Bridge (now named the Arland D. Williams Jr, we local Citadel guys get together a wreath, or lift a pint, for him occasionally.)

Posted by: Jean at September 28, 2013 05:02 PM (CMlD4)

100 95 I live in NJ,moving here actually cut down on my bridge crossing though.

Posted by: steevy at September 28, 2013 05:02 PM (9XBK2)

101 "36 There's a vicious rumour going around the Houston area that Sheila Jackson Lee just ain't all that bright.

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at September 28, 2013 08:31 PM (d7tB2)"

That's OK. She compensates for that by being mean.

Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole at September 28, 2013 05:03 PM (31Nrp)

102
#65 - Thanks NDH.

Here's a link to another story with a slideshow. You can really appreciate the height of the vehicle ramp in the first pic:

http://tinyurl.com/mqyfqn7

Posted by: Ed Anger at September 28, 2013 05:03 PM (tOkJB)

103 CPAN is for Perl nerds like me.

You mean CSPAN

Posted by: Sphynx at September 28, 2013 05:03 PM (cll/q)

104 How many years before you got to have sex with her instead of yourself?

Posted by: bebe's boobs destroy at September 28, 2013 08:57 PM (lg+L/)

_________________________

I know right. I also made the mistake in the tunnel sections to remind her that we were underwater and that if she saw any leaking to let me know so I could race to the other end. Needless to say that went over like a fart in church. I should have been a little more understanding.

Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at September 28, 2013 05:04 PM (jucos)

105 CPAN is for Perl nerds like me. You mean CSPAN **** keyboards. How do they work?

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 05:05 PM (DmNpO)

106 59 Factiod: 1/3 of the original railroad bridges build in the 1800's collapsed in use. It was a major scandal in the press of the day. Hundreds and hundreds of people were killed in the collapses. *** I've seen photos of those magnificent tressels over dramatic gorges and they evoked thoughts of the genius of man. I may need to rethink that.

Posted by: WalrusRex at September 28, 2013 05:06 PM (PjgvN)

107 the writer apparently forgot to mention anything about the collision

There will be a full inquiry into that which could take months.

The news couldn't expand much on the short form until that inquiry is complete: "Fuckup(s) drove ship into bridge".

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at September 28, 2013 05:06 PM (9MLX+)

108 Hey, from a fellow Jacksonvilleite. Graduated and moved away. Family still lives there though. I remember being in an old Volswagen Bug back in the day and opening the doors to watch the water below through the grates. However, my fear of heights has gotten the better of me. Now when I visit I refuse to take that route now.

Posted by: lucianna at September 28, 2013 05:06 PM (Zx3MS)

109 Here's a link to another story with a slideshow. You can really appreciate the height of the vehicle ramp in the first pic: *** Wow! You'd think they would have put it down.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 05:06 PM (DmNpO)

110 Family still lives there though. I remember being in an old Volswagen Bug back in the day and opening the doors to watch the water below through the grates. *** IDIOT! *wink*

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 05:07 PM (DmNpO)

111 broken down bridges are about as rare as hurricanes are. big news for the dems now and then but mostly hot air

Posted by: weatherman at September 28, 2013 05:07 PM (V+Pei)

112 Last time I crossed the Sunshine Skyway a car had just pulled over to the side at the top. I knew right away what that was. Too late, though, he was already gone. More suicides than any bridge East of the Pacific.

Posted by: Jinx the Cat at September 28, 2013 05:07 PM (l3vZN)

113 Which Potomac bridge was it that got struck by the Air Florida 737 in 1982? I believe 6 commuters stuck in traffic on the bridge were killed instantly

Posted by: kbdabear at September 28, 2013 08:58 PM (aTXUx)

_____________________

Air Florida struck the 14th Street Bridge. Flattened 3 cars I believe. Greaseman (Local radio personality) got suspended because he called Air Florida the week after the accident and asked how much tickets were to the 14th Street Bridge.

Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at September 28, 2013 05:08 PM (jucos)

114 Yes CSPAN, I meant to type CSPAN but my sausage fingers only allow hunting and pecking.

Posted by: Kreplach at September 28, 2013 05:08 PM (hmUex)

115 Air Florida struck the 14th Street Bridge. Flattened 3 cars I believe. Greaseman (Local radio personality) got suspended because he called Air Florida the week after the accident and asked how much tickets were to the 14th Street Bridge. *** heh. The Greaseman. He got his start here in Jacksonville.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 05:08 PM (DmNpO)

116 Sorry, my spelling and grammar are nonexistant after a day of college football. The SEC and all.

Posted by: lucianna at September 28, 2013 05:09 PM (Zx3MS)

117 Wait a second.....the bridge is still open to traffic?!?!?!?

Posted by: cthulhu at September 28, 2013 05:09 PM (T1005)

118 At that first link for the Skyway disaster, they play the recording from the ship following the collapse. Blood curdling.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 05:10 PM (DmNpO)

119 Wait a second.....the bridge is still open to traffic?!?!?!? *** No.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 05:10 PM (DmNpO)

120 CPAN is for Perl nerds like me. Posted by: Sphynx at September 28, 2013 09:03 PM (cll/q) Not everyone like Perl. http://bit.ly/18zUDw0 (not relevant I just remembered that pic from Back In The Day)

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith [/i] [/b] [/s] [/u] at September 28, 2013 05:10 PM (qyfb5)

121 they evoked thoughts of the genius of man. I may need to rethink that

The genius part is in learning from your mistakes and not repeating them.

FWIW, the early railroad bridge debacle is from Henry Petroski's book (which I highly recommend): "To Engineer Is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design"

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at September 28, 2013 05:11 PM (9MLX+)

122 I need to design Water Brakes for ships. I bet someone already did that, though.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith [/i] [/b] [/s] [/u] at September 28, 2013 05:11 PM (qyfb5)

123 Yes we were idiots! It's lucky we ever survived.

Posted by: lucianna at September 28, 2013 05:11 PM (Zx3MS)

124 Anybody who can drive the Mackinac Bridge in the winter months without fear of being blown into Lake Superior probably can ace the other bridges

Posted by: kbdabear at September 28, 2013 08:40 PM (aTXUx)

If you get blown into Lake Superior - well that was just one heck of a gust!

Posted by: Mikey NTH - Outrage Outlet features Stakes and Kindling for all of Your Heretic Burning Needs! at September 28, 2013 05:14 PM (gmoEG)

125 When the Northridge Earthquake hit, it was 5:17 in the morning in January, still dark There were two or three vehicles on the 14 freeway that hit a sudden wide open space where a large section of an overpass broke off Posted by: kbdabear at September 28, 2013 08:46 PM (aTXUx) I do remember Northridge. I felt the rumbling, then hard a rapid poppoppoppop in my house- the roof trusses had buckled. Went outside to find a telephone pole swaying several feet to either side where my car was parked. Mind you, this was at the other end of the SFV, in Sunland. I think the 14 was where that cycle cop went off the end and was killed- that's one fucking huge drop to the desert floor.

Posted by: Bill H at September 28, 2013 05:14 PM (3sZO1)

126 heh. The Greaseman. He got his start here in Jacksonville. Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 09:08 PM (DmNpO) He was on up in Maryland for a while. Then back here in Jax for a little while like, I dunno, 7 years ago.

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at September 28, 2013 05:15 PM (GEICT)

127 ok this is going to be a really dumb question
The vitter amendment deals with congress and their asistants,
but what about senate?

Posted by: willow at September 28, 2013 05:15 PM (nqBYe)

128 @johnekdahl has been live tweeting Raising McCain the last two weeks, not sure he's around to do it tonight.

Any Morons want to step in and watch it on Pivot and live tweet it at 10pm Eastern? Comedy gold mine for you

If you can't get Pivot, they livestream the show

http://tinyurl.com/n6my2s6

Tonight's episode ....

Meghan McCain ‏@MeghanMcCain 2h

New episode of #RaisingMcCain starts in 3 hours! This weeks topic is "has technology killed dating and romance?" Tune in and tweet me!

KBDaBear ‏@kbdabear 20h

"Dating is a Battle" says Meggie. Like in arm wrestling over the dinner rolls? #RaisingMcCain

I think it's followed by "Ow, My Balls" at 10:30

Posted by: kbdabear at September 28, 2013 05:15 PM (aTXUx)

129
Foreth!

Posted by: Your Immaculate Leader, The Preezy, Barky Obumbles at September 28, 2013 05:15 PM (0IhFx)

130
NDH -

That was like driving a dump truck under a bridge with the bed up. I can barely believe the Captain did it. What an idiot. It makes me sick to see our Navy do something so stupid.

Loss of command for that numbskull.

Posted by: Ed Anger at September 28, 2013 05:16 PM (tOkJB)

131 91: 14th street bridge. Used to drive it everyday

Posted by: Former DC Commuter at September 28, 2013 05:16 PM (2WkUk)

132 "Congress" == (House + Senate)

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at September 28, 2013 05:16 PM (9MLX+)

133 The average state collects 30Â¢ a gallon in state and local taxes, (the fed, 19.5Â¢) I wonder where that money has been going instead of for road/bridge maintenance???

Posted by: Just Asking at September 28, 2013 05:17 PM (Pr6hk)

134 Talk about harshing my mellow.

Posted by: Steff McKee at September 28, 2013 05:17 PM (2rx4R)

135 purp, der, well maybe a glass of wine too many. for me.

i was blank for a good 5 minutes about that question.

Posted by: willow at September 28, 2013 05:17 PM (nqBYe)

136 Same thing happened in Savannah and Charleston. Those Gulf port bridges are subject to collisions, apparently.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at September 28, 2013 05:18 PM (aDwsi)

137 The Savanna(IL)-Sabula(IA) bridge, which opened in 1932, has a similar deck grating. It's perfect for the climate up here. Because it's open it never needs to be salted or plowed for snow or ice. Hence, no rust and no damage. That bridge is as solid as the day it was built (though it is a bit narrow).

So now they're going to tear it down and replace it with a concrete deck bridge which WILL need to be salted in winter. I'm making book on how long that one lasts.

Posted by: creeper at September 28, 2013 05:19 PM (ccSx3)

138 Jeez, just got back from BX and Commisary. What a nut house. People are cleaning off the shelves

Posted by: Ma Bell at September 28, 2013 05:19 PM (RLdcX)

139

Nino Greasmanelli. Dang!

Posted by: Pecan Scandi at September 28, 2013 05:19 PM (wYShC)

140 Nightmares? Drive over the Mackinac bridge in a high wind warning in snow. FIVE miles of terror. http://tinyurl.com/otx9q

Posted by: John Smith at September 28, 2013 05:19 PM (wR+pz)

141 Jean @ 72-
The old Cooper River Bridge! Ex-Mrs. E. would not drive across it. I told her if she wanted to get to Pawley's Island and not go the long way the bridge was it. No way. Good times.

Posted by: EROWMER at September 28, 2013 05:20 PM (OONaw)

142 Crossing the Mackinac Bridge on motorcycle is interesting. Open steel grate causes tire wander, and looking down through the grate causes vertigo. Fun.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at September 28, 2013 05:20 PM (aDwsi)

143 The Romans built roads, bridges and aqueducts still in use today 2,000 years later.

How come we can make shit last 50 years?

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at September 28, 2013 05:20 PM (9MLX+)

144 ok one vote passed with yahs.but which one was that?

fgs i probabl;y should go to bed.

Posted by: willow at September 28, 2013 05:21 PM (nqBYe)

145 The Stuff of Nightmares - Being in Jacksonville - bad enough having to cross into Queens

Posted by: Anderson Cooper at September 28, 2013 05:21 PM (Pr6hk)

146 If you design a bridge for iron, it will perform well. Iron's strength is in compression. Steel is a lot more brittle, and loses more to rust. But you have to know what you're doing, and let's face it, engineering education isn't what it's cracked up to be.

Canadian civil engineers all wear an iron ring. Everybody knows why, right?

Posted by: Stringer Davis at September 28, 2013 05:21 PM (JNUY4)

147 The old Cooper River Bridge! Ex-Mrs. E. would not drive across it. I told her if she wanted to get to Pawley's Island and not go the long way the bridge was it. No way. Good times. Posted by: EROWMER --------------- Narrow, wasn't it? Oncoming trucks would cause my testicles to retract.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at September 28, 2013 05:21 PM (aDwsi)

148 nevermind, i m going to sleep.
have a good nite all.

Posted by: willow at September 28, 2013 05:22 PM (nqBYe)

149
I love metal grate bridges. It's too bad there are none around me anymore.

They used to terrify me. But after years I got used to them and feeling my car veer all over them became fun.

Posted by: Ed Anger at September 28, 2013 05:22 PM (tOkJB)

150 He was on up in Maryland for a while. Then back here in Jax for a little while like, I dunno, 7 years ago.

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at September 28, 2013 09:15 PM (GEICT)

_________________________

He still lives up here in Montgomery County MD. I don't think he is on the radio anymore though.

Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at September 28, 2013 05:22 PM (jucos)

151 How come we can make shit last 50 years? Posted by: Purp at September 28, 2013 09:20 PM (9MLX+) Union labor. And if you fucked shit up, the Romans killed you.

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at September 28, 2013 05:23 PM (GEICT)

152 Planned obsolescence: it's for the economy

Posted by: Justamom at September 28, 2013 05:24 PM (Sptt8)

153 Now, I can't stop thinking about that creepy Richard Gere movie "The Mothman Prophecies."

Posted by: no good deed at September 28, 2013 05:24 PM (k55Fc)

154 The old 7-mile bridge in the Keys was scary - one narrow lane each way...for 7-miles.

They use the old sections of it for movie shoots and stuff these days. The old sections were in True Lies and maybe a Bond movie

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at September 28, 2013 05:24 PM (9MLX+)

155 He was on up in Maryland for a while. Then back here in Jax for a little while like, I dunno, 7 years ago. *** And he was VILE! He was funny earlier on.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 05:25 PM (DmNpO)

156 2 Dems voting with Republicans

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 05:25 PM (DmNpO)

157 Now, I can't stop thinking about that creepy Richard Gere movie "The Mothman Prophecies." Posted by: no good deed at September 28, 2013 09:24 PM (k55Fc) Hello, John.

Posted by: Indrid Cold [/i] [/b] [/s] [/u] at September 28, 2013 05:25 PM (qyfb5)

158 And he was VILE! He was funny earlier on. Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 09:25 PM (DmNpO) More than offensive, he just wasn't funny. And the put him on during the afternoon drive. Bad slot.

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at September 28, 2013 05:26 PM (GEICT)

159 I loved the voice effect for Mothman. And I always liked creepy more than gore.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith [/i] [/b] [/s] [/u] at September 28, 2013 05:26 PM (qyfb5)

160 How come we can make shit last 50 years?

Posted by: Purp at September 28, 2013 09:20 PM (9MLX+)

Because in the Cost/Benefit analysis, someone actually thought the gasoline taxes went back into maintenance and the eventual replacement of the span, instead of the politicians pissing the money away on PEU's

The brits and historical scholars love to shit all over the first Transcontinental Railroad for its poor quality, but guess what, there was no ability to transport quality materials to construction sites, and start generating revenues ASAP (

Posted by: phreshone at September 28, 2013 05:27 PM (Pr6hk)

161 When my crappy Fischer Paykle washer crapped out I sent them a letter lamenting how I was going to have to deposit it in a landfill and create a big carbon footprint buying another. Company located in CA and I laid it on thick. I got a new washer for shipping cost.

Posted by: Justamom at September 28, 2013 05:27 PM (Sptt8)

162 Here's another one. Potomac river bridge on US 301. I did this in the snow when the bridge had no asphalt. It use to be all steel like the Mackinac. http://tinyurl.com/kujlg95

Posted by: John Smith at September 28, 2013 05:28 PM (wR+pz)

163 I'll be surprised if the Chinese bridges last 25 years... their metallurgy sucks, and their 'leaders' don't care that they're building crap

Posted by: phreshone at September 28, 2013 05:29 PM (Pr6hk)

164 Just heard: R's added a rule that will allow exemptions from providing contraceptives to companies who are opposed.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 05:29 PM (DmNpO)

165 that came out.... wrong. exemptions to companies that oppose providing contraceptives.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 05:30 PM (DmNpO)

166 Federal regulation! Eleventy! "but because this was a federal ship, a pilot wasn't required by law." Wait, uh oh. What's the answer now?

Posted by: California red at September 28, 2013 05:31 PM (L39bP)

167 They used to terrify me. But after years I got used to them and feeling my car veer all over them became fun. *** You're a sick man, Ed.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 05:31 PM (DmNpO)

168 2 Dems voting with Republicans Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse They probably just wandered in drunk and thought they were ordering a lap dance

Posted by: Beto at September 28, 2013 05:32 PM (MhA4j)

169 NDH, It's always surprised me that they decided to put up the Dame Point instead of replacing the Matthews. Of course they wouldn't have a nice 295 loop. I did the design for the Merrill Rd/Ft. Caroline interchange back in 1985. *** IIRC, there was a lot of argument to that effect.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 05:32 PM (DmNpO)

170 Federal regulation! Eleventy! "but because this was a federal ship, a pilot wasn't required by law." Wait, uh oh. What's the answer now? *** ANOTHER federal exemption

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 05:33 PM (DmNpO)

171 No good deed.. my daughter became terrified of bridges after seeing that movie. She's 29 now and the fear has never left. Thankfully we rarely have to cross any and if we do it's just a quicky over the Missouri river.

Posted by: jewells45 trying to keep from going crazy at September 28, 2013 05:34 PM (u25eL)

172 their metallurgy sucks

An engineer can work with that, as long as they know it up front and factor it into the design.

Actually, they can and do, do some good metallurgy. You just won't find it at Harbor Freight.

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at September 28, 2013 05:35 PM (9MLX+)

173 speaking of fresh hell, hey green bay.....ready for the packers to go 1-3?

Posted by: navycopjoe at September 28, 2013 05:36 PM (HED0H)

174 The Mackinac is so scary that for five dollars more they will have someone drive you over the bridge. There is a sign at the toll booth. I thought about it. People were freezing up in terror on the bridge and holding up traffic. Does anyone else have nightmares of driving off a fucking bridge? Like you crest the bridge and there is nothing left. Wakes me up every time.

Posted by: John Smith at September 28, 2013 05:37 PM (wR+pz)

175 How come we can make shit last 50 years? Posted by: Purp ---------------- Many things are not *designed* to last long. I can not swear by this, but it seems to me that when PBS produced a documentary of the building of the Clark bridge over the Missouri ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Bridge ) it was mentioned that the design life was 55 years. I was appalled. I may have heard wrong..., but that is what I remember.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at September 28, 2013 05:38 PM (aDwsi)

176 173 speaking of fresh hell, hey green bay.....ready for the packers to go 1-3? Posted by: navycopjoe at September 28, 2013 09:36 PM (HED0H) You do realize how hard I'm gonna laugh when Maet bans you, right?

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at September 28, 2013 05:38 PM (GEICT)

177 speaking of fresh hell, hey green bay.....ready for the packers to go 1-3? *** Never gets old.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 05:38 PM (DmNpO)

178

You just won't find it at Harbor Freight.

C'mon Purp. I bought some pry bars from China Harbor (Harbor Freight) and they worked great for display.

Posted by: Ronster at September 28, 2013 05:39 PM (zf+3T)

179 As a young punk I never drove over the wide bridge in Charleston. I didn't have a lot of sense back then.

Posted by: traye at September 28, 2013 05:39 PM (tvTBP)

180 Does anyone else have nightmares of driving off a fucking bridge? Like you crest the bridge and there is nothing left. *** yes. I blame the Skyway disaster.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 05:39 PM (DmNpO)

181 Does anyone else have nightmares of driving off a fucking bridge? Like you crest the bridge and there is nothing left.

Wakes me up every time.

Posted by: John Smith at September 28, 2013 09:37 PM (wR+pz)

___________________

A nice young lady just got pushed off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge by a Tractor Trailer. Luckily she was just outside Annapolis and the bridge at that end was "only" about 50 feet off the water. She survived.

Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at September 28, 2013 05:40 PM (jucos)

182

176 pssst

I know how to reset my router

Posted by: navycopjoe at September 28, 2013 05:41 PM (HED0H)

183 182 176 pssst I know how to reset my router Posted by: navycopjoe at September 28, 2013 09:41 PM (HED0H) Have fun! *readies popcorn*

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at September 28, 2013 05:42 PM (GEICT)

184 They used to terrify me. But after years I got used to them and feeling my car veer all over them became fun. -------------------------- Try it on a motorcycle..., for a whole new experience.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at September 28, 2013 05:42 PM (aDwsi)

185 174 The Mackinac is so scary that for five dollars more they will have someone drive you over the bridge. There is a sign at the toll booth. I thought about it.

People were freezing up in terror on the bridge and holding up traffic.

Does anyone else have nightmares of driving off a fucking bridge? Like you crest the bridge and there is nothing left.

Wakes me up every time. Posted by: John Smith at September 28, 2013 09:37 PM

I can imagine that driving over that in winter must be a holy terror

"Does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the winds of November come calling"

Posted by: kbdabear at September 28, 2013 05:42 PM (aTXUx)

186 Hello, John.

My aunt would call me and play that from a recording. Freaked me right out. I like the creepy/haunting movies. Gore splattered films are not really scary, just gross. I did watch part of a movie that was a remake of a Swedish film. The English title was "Funny Games." I had to turn it off. It was such a gratuitous use of violence that it disturbed me.

Jewells, so sorry it freaked your daughter out that much.

Posted by: no good deed at September 28, 2013 05:43 PM (k55Fc)

187 THe USNS ship was under tow, so the Master may have diminished responsibility. The 2nd Mate is the one who figures out the tides, checks ship's draft and looks at the chart for the max height the bridge allows. One possible error is bridge height is computed from mean lower low water (MLLW), and the tide calculation could have been off a tad. The pilot, if any, is on the hook for this, as he should know the tides, max height allowed and the draft of the vessel. One report said no pilot was onbioard. Tug captains are in the clear.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 28, 2013 05:43 PM (u82oZ)

188 183 besides, it not being banned which worries me, its the massive load of shit i'll catch when the bears lose their first game

Posted by: navycopjoe at September 28, 2013 05:44 PM (HED0H)

189 125 When the Northridge Earthquake hit, it was 5:17 in the morning in January, still dark

There were two or three vehicles on the 14 freeway that hit a sudden wide open space where a large section of an overpass broke off

Posted by: kbdabear at September 28, 2013 08:46 PM (aTXUx)

I do remember Northridge. I felt the rumbling, then hard a rapid poppoppoppop in my house- the roof trusses had buckled. Went outside to find a telephone pole swaying several feet to either side where my car was parked. Mind you, this was at the other end of the SFV, in Sunland.

I think the 14 was where that cycle cop went off the end and was killed- that's one fucking huge drop to the desert floor.

Posted by: Bill H at September 28, 2013 09:14 PM (3sZO1)

Oddly enough, the same intersection collapsed in the 1971 Sylmar quake, as well as the 1994 Northridge. (wikipedia drolly notes "nearly exactly as had happened...." at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newhall_Pass_interchange ). Not that LA has a lot of quakes or anything.... Oh, and the 1933 Long Beach quake was instrumental in revising building codes for schools because more than 230 of them were either destroyed, suffered major damage, or were judged unsafe to occupy -- fortunately, it didn't occur during school hours or the carnage would have been monstrous.

Incidentally, the first two of those quakes happened at 6:00 am and 4:30 am and destroyed the same bridges....which really suggests to me that people should sleep in late instead of driving around.

Posted by: cthulhu at September 28, 2013 05:44 PM (T1005)

190 The old "Steel Bridge" over the Willamette in Portland, OR had the open steel deck. I hated going over that on the motor-bike, especially in the wet. Once you got onto the deck, you were just "along for the ride".

http://tinyurl.com/mjmkz7c

Posted by: ChrisP at September 28, 2013 05:44 PM (jdPps)

191 @113 I thought that was Howard Stern...? Or maybe they both did it?

Posted by: Gran at September 28, 2013 05:44 PM (nPMjI)

192 The bridge, until just a couple of years ago, had a very slick grating which, with the slightest rain, would send cars spinning out of control. I would assume that riding a motorcycle across it while it was damp was absolutely out of the question.

Posted by: Blacque Jacques Shellacque at September 28, 2013 05:45 PM (/IXKu)

193 you guys know that bridge that connects Chicago to Indiana? that bridge scares the hell of me

Posted by: navycopjoe at September 28, 2013 05:45 PM (HED0H)

194 It's funny.. she's pretty fearless about most things.. but this just freaks her out lol.

Posted by: jewells45 trying to keep from going crazy at September 28, 2013 05:45 PM (u25eL)

195 Wow! Reading this, people really are afraid. Like lots of people. I never knew. How terrible it must be to actually live in real honest to goodness fear.

Posted by: traye at September 28, 2013 05:45 PM (tvTBP)

196 How about having politicians, who lost and are force to step down, instead of getting a pension (more than we will ever see), how about we just execute them.

Hey, there's an idea! Let's just hope they can't call upon reserves from other supporters, or from our own citizens' sense of fair play

Posted by: Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus at September 28, 2013 05:45 PM (d7tB2)

197 Then, there is the Royal Albert railway bridge, designed by the brilliant engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Built of cast iron. Still in daily use. Of course, that was only 160 years ago, so we'll have to wait and see. Pics http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=royal+albert+bridge&qpvt=royal+albert+bridge&FORM=IGRE

Posted by: Mike Hammer at September 28, 2013 05:47 PM (aDwsi)

198 @185 The Mac bridge. I drove a 1990 landcruiser that had been lifted and had off road tires on it over the damn thing. Only one lane was open both ways and there was a high wind warning and it was snowing. I got behind a truck and did nothing but look at his license plate till I got to the Ft. I pulled over and had three beers. I guess you get use to it. The Cooper use to scare the shit out of me, but after a 20-30 times I got use to it.

Posted by: John Smith at September 28, 2013 05:47 PM (wR+pz)

199 188 183 besides, it not being banned which worries me, its the massive load of shit i'll catch when the bears lose their first game Posted by: navycopjoe at September 28, 2013 09:44 PM

I'm asking the co-bloggers to dedicate a thread to it just for that purpose

How about it, Maet?

Posted by: kbdabear at September 28, 2013 05:47 PM (aTXUx)

200 I still remember my mother having a shit-fit (as a passenger) going over the old Jamestown Bridge on the way to Newport RI - 135ft above the water, a steep incline and only one lane each way... a scary sob

Posted by: phreshone at September 28, 2013 05:48 PM (Pr6hk)

201 Isambard Kingdom Brunel was a 'Scary Smart' man. Way ahead of his time.

Posted by: ChrisP at September 28, 2013 05:49 PM (jdPps)

202 The 14th St bridge was renamed after Arland Williams, who survived the crash but was pinned in floating wreckage and couldn't be saved. He passed the lifelines within his reach to the other survivors. According to the NTSB report, he was the only person to die from drowning.

Posted by: Gran at September 28, 2013 05:49 PM (nPMjI)

203 Tomorrow the Houston Texans (2-1) face off against the Seattle Hipsters (3-0). We'd better have a counter for their playbook: the Snide Remark, the Obscure Musical Reference and, scariest of all, the Silly-Looking Fuzzy Beret

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at September 28, 2013 05:50 PM (d7tB2)

204 Speaking of morons and bridges, which of you did this off the Tacoma Narrows today?

http://tinyurl.com/lend4jq

Posted by: ChrisP at September 28, 2013 05:53 PM (jdPps)

205

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at September 28, 2013 09:50 PM (d7tB2)

and celebrate the victory with a burnt-roast latte-mocha-chino-grande???

Posted by: phreshone at September 28, 2013 05:54 PM (Pr6hk)

206 @204 Expect a You tube posting any day now if he recovers from his concussion.

Posted by: John Smith at September 28, 2013 05:55 PM (wR+pz)

207 Isambard Kingdom Brunel was a 'Scary Smart' man. Way ahead of his time. Posted by: ChrisP ------ Yes. And you get a Gold Star for knowing who he was. Kind of a Tesla of mechanical engineering, without the insane part.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at September 28, 2013 05:55 PM (aDwsi)

208 Hey, how bout my Tar Heels?

Posted by: Tingle Legs Chris at September 28, 2013 05:56 PM (wR+pz)

209 Yeah, Mackinac is the biggest bridge I've driven over. It was in my 5.0 Mustang, and my wife did not enjoy it. But a much smaller bridge that I cross several times a week was opened in 1896. It's the Metra railroad bridge over the Fox River. 117 years old!

Posted by: Chris M at September 28, 2013 05:59 PM (4lyMJ)

210 135ft above the water, a steep incline and only one lane each way... --------------------- Pffft. The old Cooper river bridge was 150', and I believe 20' wide: "Engineers and critics proclaimed colorful descriptions of the unique structure, deeming it "the first roller-coaster bridge" and citing that "steep approaches, stupendous height, extremely narrow width, and a sharp curve at the dip conspire to excite and alarm the motorist."

Posted by: Mike Hammer at September 28, 2013 05:59 PM (aDwsi)

211 Mike Hammer,
There once was a PBS program, one hour long, dedicated to him and his works.
What an exceptional human being!
I tried to find it at the PBS store to get the dvd for gifts, but I could not find it.

Posted by: ChrisP at September 28, 2013 05:59 PM (jdPps)

212 208 Hey, how bout my Tar Heels?

Posted by: Tingle Legs Chris at September 28, 2013 09:56 PM (wR+pz)

So was this a moral victory or an actual victory-victory

Posted by: phreshone at September 28, 2013 06:01 PM (Pr6hk)

213 A young woman I knew was killed in a collison on the old Talmadge bridge at Savannah..

Posted by: Mike Hammer at September 28, 2013 06:01 PM (aDwsi)

214 Actually, for highway bridges, a life span of 55 years seems ample to me. Chances are, before the bridge exceeds its planned life, it will have become too small, because the traffic has so greatly expanded, or else it will have become redundant because new nearby roads and bridges have stolen all its users.

Build it to last X years, and have a plan in place, and funding arranged to start building its replacement in X-10 years. Of course, that would require forethought, which is rare in government.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at September 28, 2013 06:02 PM (60Q+L)

215 ChrisP - I have seen the Royal Albert bridge, from the water below. Awesome.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at September 28, 2013 06:02 PM (aDwsi)

216 So was this a moral victory or an actual victory-victory Posted by: phreshone at September 28, 2013 10:01 PM (Pr6hk) The Heels scored 31 points!! OK so the other guys, a cheap teachers college, scored 55, BUT they don't have a well on their campus, so there.

Posted by: Tingle Legs Chris at September 28, 2013 06:03 PM (wR+pz)

217 213 A young woman I knew was killed in a collison on the old Talmadge bridge at Savannah.. That was a short bridge, but shit the entire East coast traffic had to go over it. Do you remember when they had the toll booths and you had to wait an hour to pay?

Posted by: John Smith at September 28, 2013 06:05 PM (wR+pz)

218 ONT up

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at September 28, 2013 06:06 PM (DmNpO)

219

and a sharp curve at the dip conspire to excite and alarm the motorist."

Posted by: Mike Hammer at September 28, 2013 09:59 PM (aDwsi)

Heh, I completely forgot about that fun part of the bridge.

Posted by: ExSnipe at September 28, 2013 06:07 PM (57ubW)

220 That was a short bridge, but shit the entire East coast traffic had to go over it. Do you remember when they had the toll booths and you had to wait an hour to pay? Posted by: John Smith ---------------- Yeah. But on the upside, it paid for itself sooner than expected, and they yanked the toll booths. I lived on an island up the coast a bit, only accessible (in an auto) by a toll bridge. The day the bridge was paid off and the toll lifted, it was a big, big deal.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at September 28, 2013 06:09 PM (aDwsi)

221 191 @113 It was Howard Stern. That day he went from funny to a jerk, and never recovered. The 14th Street Bridge is never called it's new name. There are very few drivers in the DC area that even know it has another name. I blame WTOP's "Traffic & weather on the 8s".

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 28, 2013 06:10 PM (u82oZ)

222 Heh, I completely forgot about that fun part of the bridge. Posted by: ExSnipe ------------- It was *steep*..., and narrow. As I recall, the guard rail stanchions came straight up out of the roadbed, no curbing. Built for Model As.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at September 28, 2013 06:11 PM (aDwsi)

223 Yashure, steel gratings are no real problem on a motorcycle, as long as you don't have to change direction or stop. Or accelerate. Other than that, no big. Access to Akron from the Ohio Turnpike used to be exclusively via State Route 8, which had an elevated grated section about a mile long. And the best Norton shop in the state was right at the end of that section. We used to call it the Akron anti-motorcycle access barrier.

I had the distinctive experience of having the mag-dyno of a Norton-Matchless short internally at the peak of the Mackinac. I more or less coasted into the maintenance shop at the north end, where some gruff but good-hearted state employees gave me a one-hour battery charge that let me finish the trip.

Mag-dynos were a little like Falcon Scott's antarctic equipage (motor sledges, Shetland ponies, and dogs), that celebrated diversity but didn't have enough of any one thing to compensate for the lack of an of the others. I was able to conserve electrical fluid later that day, when a lightning storm in the Iron Range yielded steady enough illumination to turn off the headlamp.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at September 28, 2013 06:11 PM (JNUY4)

224 Can get off the bridge now. Nood

Posted by: Mike Hammer at September 28, 2013 06:13 PM (aDwsi)

225 Where's that confounded bridge?!

Posted by: The Crunge at September 28, 2013 06:15 PM (BxDFo)

226 Stringer Davis,
Lucas Electric, The "Prince of Darkness".
Lucas motto:
"A Good Days Work, and Home Before Dark"...

Posted by: ChrisP at September 28, 2013 06:16 PM (jdPps)

227 Do you really have a bridge called The Sunshine Skyway? What incurable romantics you Floridians must be.

Posted by: fran at September 28, 2013 06:18 PM (HzALE)

228 I came within minutes of driving off the overpass that collapsed on the NY turnpike in 1987. Patrolman was setting out flares and turned us away; reading the report later we figured we were less than 15 minutes from going over ourselves. As a structural engineer I can attest that the loss of the bottom chord member is freaky, but that expert did a terrible job explaining why. The ship took out the bottom chord of the truss on one side. The saving grace appears to be that the portion of the span is not the location of maximum load within that chord, and that the box section of the truss apparently has enough torsional stiffness to transfer that chord force to the truss on the opposite side. You would expect to see more distortion but structures always surprise with their reserve capacity in elements we don't count on.

Posted by: TexasDan at September 28, 2013 06:28 PM (OKrkW)

229 207 Isambard Kingdom Brunel was a 'Scary Smart' man. Way ahead of his time. Posted by: ChrisP ------ Yes. And you get a Gold Star for knowing who he was. Kind of a Tesla of mechanical engineering, without the insane part. Posted by: Mike Hammer at September 28, 2013 09:55 PM (aDwsi) I knew who he was, but I'm more familiar with his shipbuilding activities. He built the largest ship in the world three times during his career. The last one, Great Eastern, was vastly larger than any ship that had ever been built. It wasn't matched or exceeded for decades, until the early years of the 20th Century. While it was a commercial failure as a passenger liner, it did lay the first transatlantic telegraph cable, which was pretty important.

Posted by: rickl at September 28, 2013 07:08 PM (sdi6R)

230

I was there for the skyway collapse. Freaky thing. The ship did not actually hit the span itself. It creamed one of the piers, knocking the structure off it's support pedestals.

They are designed to move up and down, a lot, and back and forth. It is the side to side that will cause massive failure.

A buddy of mine is there painting the Matthews bridge, they did'nt notice a thing other than being told to stop work and get off the bridge until further notice.

I'm actually surprised no one has tryed to blame the painters yet......

Posted by: CharlieH at September 28, 2013 07:08 PM (MdrXG)

231 174 Does anyone else have nightmares of driving off a fucking bridge? Like you crest the bridge and there is nothing left.

Wakes me up every time.

I've had a few in which I'm driving up a bridge that is so high and steep it feels like the car will slide backwards. Scares the shit out of me, but I always floor the gas and make it over the crest.

Posted by: Pantera Rosa at September 28, 2013 07:51 PM (9AtAV)

232 @ 163 Phreshone, Yep Chinese Bridges are crap. I used to have a flat in Jiangmen and used to commute there every weekend back and forth From Dongguan. They had this bridge that crossed the JiuJiang River, around Foshan I think. A sand hauler clipped it and 600 feet of span fell in the river back in June of 2007. Sand Hauler bow was submerged under the fallen span and water. The darn Aft was sticking up out the water (not even touching the water) at about a 30 degree angle. It could have been worse maybe 9 people died if I remember correctly. They had it down to 1 span traffic going both ways for a spell. They finally fixed it. But I used to get the willies every time I drove over that thing.

Posted by: Judge_Roy_bean at September 28, 2013 09:45 PM (I8pfe)

233 I was just thinking about the Skyway disaster the other day. There is something especially awful in driving and seeing nothing there and falling. I suppose the only thing worse on a day like that would be to have a loved one with me too. What utter helplessness.

Posted by: Baldy at September 29, 2013 06:49 PM (tyDFN)

234 On a lighter note, here is a local bridge that went nowhere once: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Duquesne_Bridge

Posted by: Baldy at September 29, 2013 06:53 PM (tyDFN)

235 Woo-I guess I scrolled farther than I thought.

Posted by: Baldy at September 29, 2013 07:07 PM (tyDFN)

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