| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re: This may NOT surprise you | |
| Posted by: | Francis Rowe | |
| Date/Time: | 14/04/26 09:54:00 |
| There isn't any such thing as a natural life span for a bridge. The Arkadiko Bridge in Greece is over 3,000 years old and still carries traffic. There are numerous examples of bridges built before the advent of the internal combustion engine including those by Bazalgette, which continue to function well. Even if you don't think Hammersmith Bridge is a thing of beauty and an important London landmark - it has a listing so demolition isn't an option. The problem with it was not the original design but lack of maintenance particularly on the mechanisms put in place to give it the flexibility to carry high levels of tonnage. There are numerous examples of bridges like this have been renovated and upgraded to bring them into their second or third century of operation and I've never heard an engineer say this isn't possible just that the money might not be available to do it. |