Did Any of You Guys see ........

scott_vt · Dec 8, 2005

The Discovery channel program on building a 50 something mile bridge across the Berring Straits ??? Wow, what a program, and couldnt believe the amount of engineering involved just to study the ice flow characteristics and pier design to withstand arctic ice flows! Wondering how long it would take to realize a profit on that project? Sorry, kind of off topic but still interesting /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

scotty

EddieWalker · Dec 8, 2005

Your right, it was very interesting. I loved the solution to break up the ice pack as it hits the peirs. Put a cone at the water line and have the ice ride up on it until it's own weight breakes it. Simple, cleaver and effective.

Did you catch the comparison to the bridge over the lake in Lousiana. Obviously they made the show before Katrina took out the bridge!!!

I also wonder about the effectiveness of a bridge that can only be open to traffic 4 months of the year. Seems like a money pit to me. But many they will make it up with the flow of oil throught the pipe. Of course, it the pipe line was the main goal, why not lay the pipe on the ocean floor and spend a tenth of the money?

Eddie

Jarrett · Dec 8, 2005

( Did you catch the comparison to the bridge over the lake in Lousiana. Obviously they made the show before Katrina took out the bridge!!!)

I didn't see the show, but I'm willing to bet the bridge they talked about was the Causeway (24 miles long) which only received minimal damage. The bridge that collapsed was the I-10 "Twinspan". They already have one "span" reopen for 2-way traffic, and should have the other span reopen for 1 lane of traffic before Christmas. Then they're going to build a whole new structure about 10' taller.

Dmace · Dec 8, 2005

( I didn't see the show, but I'm willing to bet the bridge they talked about was the Causeway (24 miles long) which only received minimal damage.)

Actually it was about a proposed bridge from Alaska to Siberia. It was an amazing show. Being a Civil Engineer in training, it was very entertaining. The bridge will have a two lane highway on top deck, a high-speed monorail train on the mid deck and a oil/fossil fuel pipeline on the lower deck. The lower and mid decks are fully enclosed. They started engineering/designing it 30 years ago. Simply amazing.

Check out the interactive slide show here

VA_Joe · Dec 8, 2005

I think the highway on top was just gravy. It seems like the oil/gas pipeline and train were the main event. I think you are right however - it would make far more sense to put the pipelines under water as I see little practical use for both the trains and the highway. Unless global warming really heats things up - I can't see people (in large numbers at least) going thousands of miles out of their way via a harsh and dangerous (don't want to have a breakdown out there) land route when they could fly the distance in a fraction of the time. The trains don't even make sense for cargo given how cheaply things can be moved via ocean routes. But then again - lots of things don't make sense and we all need to dream about something.

Jarrett · Dec 8, 2005

(
Actually it was about a proposed bridge from Alaska to Siberia. It was an amazing show. Being a Civil Engineer in training, it was very entertaining. The bridge will have a two lane highway on top deck, a high-speed monorail train on the mid deck and a oil/fossil fuel pipeline on the lower deck. The lower and mid decks are fully enclosed. They started engineering/designing it 30 years ago. Simply amazing.

Check out the interactive slide show here )

I was referring to the bridge in Louisiana that Farmwithjunk said the proposed bridge was compared to. I'm also an Engineer in Training with the Louisiana DOTD. However, my degree is in Mechanical Engineering, so I'm kinda in cognito, LOL. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

scott_vt · Dec 9, 2005

Thanks for the replies guys. Yes, I would think a pipe along the ocean bottom would make more sense economically, but then not nearly the challenge for all those engineers /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I just have a hard time rationalizing your return financially considering how long it would take to build that thing /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

scotty