Bridges and Tunnels Are Still Sound;

Don't Be Stampeded by Tragedy
Bridges and Tunnels Are Still Sound


A bridge collapsed in Minnesota and people died. This was a tragedy that should not have happened. The politicians and the media have fostered and expressed outrage. Their theme is Chicken Little: the sky is falling.

Mr. Levy, a retired veteran of 35 years in the transit system who monitored the structural integrity of the subway system's below-river tunnels, is the former chairman of the Civil Service Technical Guild's New York City Transit chapter. They are joined by the private engineering industry, which is now looking at a bonanza. Estimates are given that the cost of putting our bridges in a state of good repair will cost over $1 trillion. New York's senior Senator even put the nation's tunnels' integrity into question.

Fear Abounds

There is money to be made. Manufacture fear and no one will challenge your actions.

A realistic look at the nation's bridges and tunnels will tell you the sky is not falling. For example, New York City's tunnels are structurally sound. There are inspection systems in place. Any engineering monitoring and possible repair can easily be handled by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Port Authority engineering staffs.

Bring in consultants and they will magnify any problems (see construction of Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport) in order to get work.

As for New York City's bridges (mass transit and vehicular), they are also safe. The city, state, MTA and PA continually inspect these structures. There has been no collapse (the West Side Highway was removed when inspection showed deterioration due to lack of maintenance).

Big Bridge Still Standing

In fact, the Brooklyn Bridge theoretically failed in the mid-1940's. Proper remedial action (strengthening and removal of train loads) was taken and the bridge still stands and serves the city.

The Riverside Drive Viaduct, which opened in 1895, was rebuilt in the early 1960s due to proper inspection.

The Manhattan Bridge has recently been renovated to counter the twisting effect of the subway train load, although an in-house alternate (that could have saved hundreds of millions of dollars) was not used.

Private consultants said the Williamsburg Bridge should be replaced with a new bridge (more than 20 years ago) at a cost approaching $1 billion. The bridge is still in use.

Proper inspection and maintenance as required will allow continued safe use of the nation's infrastructure. If, however, the fear-mongers prevail, the excessive cost estimated by private consultants will be borne by the public while they reap a bonanza.