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posted by martyb on Thursday August 16 2018, @08:20AM   Printer-friendly
from the but-lets-talk-about-their-aquaducts dept.

https://www.npr.org/2018/08/14/638462800/suspension-bridge-on-busy-highway-partially-collapses-in-genoa:

A long section of the towering Ponte Morandi Bridge completely collapsed in Genoa, Italy, on Tuesday, sending cars and trucks on the A10 highway crashing down below. Dozens of people died in the bridge failure, officials say.

As news emerged from the chaotic scene, the death toll fluctuated several times Tuesday. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said there were 22 dead, according to public broadcaster Rai News. But Italy's ANSA news agency has reported at least 37 people died, citing the fire brigade.

Workers have found bodies and vehicles in the massive amount of wreckage left by the collapse — and at least 11 people have been pulled from the rubble alive, Italian media report.

[...] The disaster struck shortly before noon, when one of the bridge's central pillars collapsed during a violent rainstorm. A witness told ANSA that lightning had struck the bridge before the collapse.

[...] The bridge was built in the late 1960s, at a length of more than 3,600 feet. It had recently been the subject of renovation and repair efforts. Italian roadway company Autostrade says the most recent work included consolidating the viaduct's base — a project that included installing a bridge crane.

Besides the obvious news value of this event, I'd be curious of any civil engineers or structural engineers could comment on the engineering behind such things. What causes these types of crumblings to happen, and exactly how reliable is infrastructure around the world?


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  • (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Thursday August 16 2018, @09:19PM (3 children)

    by FatPhil (863) <pc-soylentNO@SPAMasdf.fi> on Thursday August 16 2018, @09:19PM (#722518) Homepage
    But the last time Canada invaded, they made it all the way to Washington. If you mention that threat, every bridge in the north will be bombed or blasted in order to keep the Canadians out!
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  • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday August 16 2018, @09:26PM

    by bob_super (1357) on Thursday August 16 2018, @09:26PM (#722525)

    If you bomb random US bridges, 10% will be deficient ones that needed replacement, so you just saved yourself the corrupt process of naming a demolition company.
    I expect that the further North you bomb, the more the percentage of deficient bridges increases.

  • (Score: 2) by Gaaark on Thursday August 16 2018, @10:48PM (1 child)

    by Gaaark (41) on Thursday August 16 2018, @10:48PM (#722579) Journal

    We COULD get rid of Trump for you, lol.

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    • (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Saturday August 18 2018, @08:56AM

      by FatPhil (863) <pc-soylentNO@SPAMasdf.fi> on Saturday August 18 2018, @08:56AM (#723067) Homepage
      Come on, Canada - do it - the world will be grateful.

      Or not. I'm one of those who thinks that revolution is more effective than evolution, and think that Trump is merely good progress towards an ultimate implosion that leads to the ultimate putsch.
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