California Bridges

**pluckyduck** · #1 11-01-2001, 07:24 PM

Under threat

It's all my fault. I was just saying yesterday that the stuff seems to have bypassed the West Coast.

Andrea

theeye · #2 11-02-2001, 11:13 AM

I drive across the George Washington Bridge (between New York and New Jersey) twice a day.

Threats against bridges scare me. A lot.

realtraveller · #3 11-02-2001, 12:59 PM

It would be very hard to bring down a bridge. Even the San Francisco earthquake in '89 broke only a small section of the Oakland Bay Bridge and didn't affect the Golden Gate.

They'd have to attach large amounts of explosives to the supports and with the Coast Guard and CHP patrolling, I don't see that as a possibility.

**pluckyduck** · #4 11-02-2001, 01:29 PM

All "Bridges" humor has been moved into the "Lighter Side of Terrorism" thread....

Andrea
crossing her fingers that this doesn't backfire on her

theeye · #5 11-02-2001, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pluckyduck
crossing her fingers that this doesn't backfire on her

On you? I'm the one who started the thread -- they're going to shoot me first!

theeye · #6 11-02-2001, 01:36 PM

Actually, in all seriousness, what I really, really hope is that nothing in that thread ends up seeming really tasteless in light of events that haven't yet happened.

Not because I'm afraid the thread will be too tasteless -- but because I'm really afraid of those hypothetical events.

erik_kosberg · #7 11-02-2001, 03:30 PM

Bridges designed for trucks and cars tend to be in more heavily populated areas, but what about bridges designed to carry trains? Some of them are more isolated (not too many people want to live right near a traintrack). If several train bridges were blown up simultaneously (for example, at multiple crossing points on the Mississippi River), the loss of infrastructure would be a big drain on the economy.

frazzledspice · #8 11-04-2001, 10:04 AM

My husband had a frightening observation while we were watching the World Series last night.

"What if the threat of destroying the California bridges is a decoy, and their real target is the New York bridge at the start of the New York City marathon this morning?" (I can't remember if it's the Verazzano or the Brooklyn Bridge....)

theeye · #9 11-04-2001, 11:24 AM

The likelihood that terrorists will be able to destroy a bridge that has no vehicular traffic and is being closely monitored seems very unlikely. Short of dropping a bomb from the air, how would they do it? The bridges that are subjected to constant vehicular traffic -- including lots and lots of trucks that can't all be searched -- are the ones you've got to worry about.

#10 11-05-2001, 11:00 AM

Perhaps some terrorist will start shearing away at cables with some nail clippers? It'll only take them a few years to damage enough cables, but better get everybody panicked now!

I hope they don't get the road rage jackasses confused with the Jihad rage assholes. The bridge wouldbe empty, eh.

I'm just waiting until the Panic Warnings Tour comes to my town. Of course, the terrorists are smart and know that all it takes to make Houston collapse in panic is to cut off the beer supply.

#11 11-05-2001, 05:49 PM

CALIFORNIA WARNIN'
BY THE FEDS AND THE COPPERS

The bridges are at risk
Said Governor Grey
He brought out the Guard to watch them all
I think they're gonna stay

You're not safe at all
If you're in LA
Calfornia warnin'
On such a peaceful day

I opened up my mail
I wore my gloves and mask
With all these anthrax scares
I'm just afraid to ask

On planes, they take away your clippers
And make you sit through delays
Calfornia warnin'
On such a peaceful day

The bridges are at risk
Said Governor Grey
He brought out the guard to watch them all
I think they're gonna stay
If I didn't know better
I wouldn't know what good are they
Calfornia warnin'
On such a peaceful day
Calfornia warnin'
On such a peaceful day
Calfornia warnin'
On such a peaceful day