Collapse of local bridges unlikely but not impossible, experts say
Are the Ambassador Bridge and the new Gordie Howe International Bridge prone to collapse if struck by a ship?
“There is no way we can design a structure with a probability of failure zero,” said Dr. Faouzi Gherib, a civil engineering professor at the University of Windsor.
He explains that thought to his students when they first learn to design.
From an engineering point of view, Gherib said the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland collapsed for one simple reason.
“The bridge was hit at the weakest point possible,” he explained.
Turning to the Ambassador Bridge, there is a pier on the Canadian side that could expose the bridge to a possible collision.
“It is surrounded by shallow water,” said Harbourmaster Peter Berry, who believes it would be difficult for a ship to hit the pier. If the ship did manage to make it that close to the concrete post, the impact wouldn't be catastrophic because there are reinforcements underwater.
“First you're going to hit a concrete pier,” Berry explained. “Secondly you're going to hit steel superstructure. You're not going to make contact to the road deck and the suspension of that road deck is contingent on the wires.”
Berry said the height of the bridge, built in the late 1920s, accounted for vessels of the day that had masts. Today's ships aren't as tall.
Down river, the design of the new bridge is very conventional and standard. The Gordie Howe International Bridge has two piers and a cable system.
According to Gherib, it's a sound build proven around the world.
“As a society we have to accept a certain risk to be able to build structures in an economic way,” he said.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge, like many other builds and construction projects, was designed to consider the probability of something serious happening, he added.
“We take that into account in designing the cables, the shape of the deck. The shape of the pillars. Everything is taken into account,” he explained.
If an event like Baltimore were to happen locally, Berry said, “We do have assets and resources and the mind power locally to start to resume the recovery of that traffic system.”
The U.S. Coast Guard released a statement Tuesday saying they are responsible for the safe flow of people and goods through the waterway. The release adds a contingency plan is in place involving many partners in the event they are called upon to respond to a major incident.
The plans are reviewed regularly and exercised.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
3 law officers serving warrant are killed, 5 wounded in shootout at North Carolina home, police say
Three officers on a U.S. Marshals Task Force serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm were killed and five other officers were wounded in a shootout Monday at a North Carolina home, police said.
'Shocked and concerned': Calgary principal charged with possession of child pornography
A Calgary elementary school principal has been charged with possession of child pornography, authorities announced Monday.
Health authority confirms cockroaches at B.C. hospital, insists they 'do not bite'
The Vancouver Island Health Authority is downplaying what staff describe as a cockroach infestation in a medical unit of Saanich Peninsula Hospital.
Toronto police arrest 12 people, lay 102 charges in major credit card fraud scheme
Toronto police say 12 people are facing a combined 102 charges in connection with an investigation into a major credit fraud scheme.
Winner of US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot is an immigrant from Laos who has cancer
One of the winners of a historic US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot last month is an immigrant from Laos who has had cancer for eight years and had his latest chemotherapy treatment last week.
Britney and Jamie Spears settlement avoids long, potentially ugly and revealing trial
Britney Spears and her father Jamie Spears will avoid what could have been a long, ugly and revealing trial with a settlement of the lingering issues in the court conservatorship that controlled her life and financial decisions for nearly 14 years.
WATCH 'Double whammy': What happens if you don't file your taxes by the deadline
The clock is ticking ahead of the deadline to file a 2023 income tax return. A personal finance expert explains why you should get them done -- even if you owe more than you can pay.