We're fine

[dreamshark]

In case you somehow missed the news flash, a bridge collapsed. Nobody in my family was anywhere near it.

I can't quite wrap my mind around it. How does a massive bridge that has stood there without incident for 40 years just... fall down? We don't have earthquakes here. No barges ran into it. No tornadoes. It wasn't even windy. The "bridge work" that was going on was just resurfacing, nothing to do with the structure of the bridge iteself. There's no indication of bombs or any other sabotage. I'd actually feel better if there was. It's better than realizing that bridges can just fall down spontaneously for no reason at all.

Comments

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

I'd actually feel better if there was. It's better than realizing that bridges can just fall down spontaneously for no reason at all.

I kind of feel that way, too.

[laurel]

As someone with an anxiety disorder (or my particular brand of it), I actually do worry about bridges falling down when I cross them or go under them. Sometimes to excess, but always at least for a second or three. I can't think of a time when I didn't.

I had to tell Kevin "see! I was right to worry!" but he pointed out that worrying about it wouldn't have saved me were I on the bridge in question at that time. I said "maybe if I never crossed or went under bridges" but we decided that in Minnesota in particular, that'd be very difficult to manage.

('Course this is part of why I sometimes don't leave the house for weeks at a time, thinking about these things. Which is when Shaun once told me "well, a meteor could hit you in your apartment" and then I started worrying about that. Yes, really.)

[barondave.livejournal.com]

Not just "spontaneous": while half of the lanes were closed and rush hour traffic was significantly lighter than normal.

I suspect there's more to the story, but we'll have to wait to find out what.

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear that none of you were anywhere near the bridge. I, too, am waiting to hear how this happened. Apparently the last inspection showed some signs of metal fatigue, but no cracking.