Key Bridge (Baltimore) rebuilding: KISS
The following are two emails sent to decision-makers on rebuilding the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore. Proposals were offered to keep the costs down and speed-up a finished job.
Email #1
From:
n.a.
Sent: Monday, April 1, 2024 8:26 AM
To: 'newstips@baltimoresun.com'
<newstips@baltimoresun.com>;
'dbelson@baltsun.com'
<dbelson@baltsun.com>;
'dmullan@baltsun.com'
<dmullan@baltsun.com>;
'chcondon@baltsun.com'
<chcondon@baltsun.com>;
'maria.glod@washpost.com'
<maria.glod@washpost.com>;
'zachary.goldfarb@washpost.com'
<zachary.goldfarb@washpost.com>;
'juliet.eilperin@washpost.com'
<juliet.eilperin@washpost.com>;
'keith.mcmillan@washpost.com'
<keith.mcmillan@washpost.com>
Subject: Simple, quick removal of Key Bridge using floating dock
principal.
Greetings,
Below is an image of a 45,000 ton battleship in a floating
drydock—ten(10) times heavier than the 4,000 ton Key Bridge
sections.
Barges or tankers(fully loaded with water) could be attached to a bridge
section using I-beams and chains. As the water is pumped out, the bridge
sections would be lifted off the bottom. Only a few feet elevation would
be needed to free and move the section. It could then be towed out of the
channel for dismembering elsewhere in clear water with far risk to human
life. Could be done in 7 days or less.
Bob Barnett
P.S. If you want to understand the mechanism of climate change, not merely
reports or predictions, visit CO2: The
Global, Multi-Tasking Killer Molecule.
Email #2
From:
n.a.
Sent: Tuesday, April 2, 2024 7:37 AM
To: 'newstips@baltimoresun.com' <newstips@baltimoresun.com>;
'dbelson@baltsun.com' <dbelson@baltsun.com>; 'dmullan@baltsun.com'
<dmullan@baltsun.com>; 'chcondon@baltsun.com'
<chcondon@baltsun.com>; 'maria.glod@washpost.com'
<maria.glod@washpost.com>; 'zachary.goldfarb@washpost.com'
<zachary.goldfarb@washpost.com>; 'juliet.eilperin@washpost.com'
<juliet.eilperin@washpost.com>; 'keith.mcmillan@washpost.com'
<keith.mcmillan@washpost.com>
Subject: Key Bridge KISS ... Part 2 of Simple, quick removal of Key
Bridge using floating dock principal.
The restoration of normal road and ocean traffic at the Key Bridge can be
done in 10% to 20% of the estimated time and cost if the following simple
facts and precedences are followed.
-
There was nothing wrong with the design and utilization of the original 1977
bridge. Therefore, no time nor money need to be spent. Pull out the original
blueprints. Save time and money.
-
Except for some twisted and bent ends, the fallen spans could be floated
by barge to a location for refurbishment using the same welding techniques
that safely served motorists and shippers for half a century. This would
save time and money.
The cutting up of the span into 200-ton sections (a waste of time when barges can be used for the whole span) does not eliminate re-using the sections as they can be re-welded together. Any welder will tell you that the welds would be as good and strong as the original welds.
The towers can be rebuilt with grooved rollers to allow floating cranes
to raise the sections into place with their cables going over the top of
the towers. The reported 1,400 tons of the largest section is nothing compared
to cranes that can lift 200,000 tons.
Why won’t this simple quick approach be used?
-
Lack of broad knowledge by the decision-makers.
- Torrential rainfall of money. When Biden said the Federal Government would pay 100%, it was a ticket for state and local politicians to add on unnecessary accouterments that cost them nothing.
Too often, local unnecessary projects are justified with the disclaimer that the feds are paying. For this taxpayer, it doesn’t matter if it the feds, state or local politicians financially rape me. So, the taxpayer, traveler and shipper will pay more time and money for a replacement bridge … the two components of inflation.
Bob Barnett