U.S. Department of Transportation’s Post

Update on our March 27th bridge collapse session. The quick action taken by cutting off traffic and the efforts of first responders were praised by CEOs. Did you know that 1.3 million trucks use the bridge annually 3,600 per day will now be endued by 30 miles of detours. The collapse has also raised a critical question: are new tankers getting too large to navigate bridges built decades ago? This overall size of these vessels impacts not only bridges but also widely used waterways throughout the world like the Panama and Suez Canals. It will take a long time to determine the cause. While the collapse will undoubtedly have an economic impact, it will be most challenging in Baltimore and adjacent east coast ports. Lastly, the leadership of Maryland's governor Wes Moore and the entire team of supporting agencies underscored that in a crisis like this, our leaders step up and demonstrate the strength of American leadership.

My heart goes out to the families of those that have been impacted by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. These events are thankfully rare, which is a testament to the many safeguards put in place to prevent their occurrence. However, the rarity of the event does not mean these events are any less tragic or impactful to the many affected by this event. I also have the utmost respect for the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard and the many missions they are charged by Congress to fulfill. We work closely with the U.S. Coast Guard on LNG terminals and associated LNG marine vessels to simulate loss of propulsion and other failure modes to better understand the risks and for them to implement safeguards that may be needed. Similarly, we work closely with civil and structural codes, and I respect the civil engineers, regulators, and others in these communities that are tasked with designing, building, maintaining, and regulating the safe use of the many bridges used by millions each day. As time passes, I am sure the maritime and civil communities will look to continuously learn, improve, and implement safeguards to further reduce the risk of the events as they move forward with a new bridge. More modern bridges and marine vessels already have some additional safeguards to further reduce the risk of such impacts and I am sure there will be further examination as to whether even more should be required. As such, I know that these communities will spend countless hours and effort to propose any needed changes to make a more resilient infrastructure to the benefit of all. While this event will always be a tragedy to many, I hope knowing that this tragedy will result in positive changes to the rest of the world will bring some solace to the families impacted. #MarylandStrong

Observing the investigation into the Baltimore Bridge collapse will be intriguing, especially regarding the valuable lessons and potential changes it may bring about in safety and infrastructure management. https://lnkd.in/gvvwxMnD #safetywise #icam #investigaiton

Toton Gateway 2050? No HS2 Eastern Leg? no problem. Showing an alternative to poor resource management. Integrated environment, infrastructure and economic planning. Joined up thinking.

The 2023 Master Plan is the fourth iteration and builds on the capabilities and advancements of previous plans. The plan incorporates the best available science and engineering information and community input to prioritize projects for implementation to further CPRA’s mission to protect and restore Louisiana’s coast.🌊🌾 View Master Plan: https://loom.ly/NWWWYYQ The Annual Plan details projected revenues and expenditures and forecasts projects that will be undertaken by the state and its partners for the upcoming three years. The Annual Plan also gives an overview of the progress that Louisiana’s coastal program has made toward implementing previous Coastal Master Plans. View FY '24 Annual Plan: https://loom.ly/jLAHKnU View DRAFT '25 Annual Plan: https://loom.ly/sCb67O0

So, what is a construction consultation? Here’s how it works. We listen to your plans for the space, perform conceptual investigations, and provide feedback on what you want to do and the limitations of your space. We help identify impacts on your project, like structural implications, utility issues, geometric challenges, and even government regulations. And potential losses from fire, flood, wind, and seismic. We correlate all those considerations to the risks related to your timeline, budget, and end goal. And you walk away knowing exactly what’s needed to make your project a reality.

It’s going to change lives – in and out of construction. Learn more in the Bottom Line with Jerry Keenan.

There are $90 million in West Slope environmental measures associated with the construction of Chimney Hollow Reservoir, the focal point being the Colorado River Connectivity Channel. The result? A much-smaller Windy Gap Reservoir and a healthier Colorado River.

In the aftermath of the tragic collapse of the Francis Key Scott Bridge, it is essential to investigate the root causes of the incident and learn valuable lessons that can minimize the risks of such accidents happening in the future. While the primary cause of the incident is believed to be the loss of power onboard the Dali ship, investigators are also looking into whether the bridge should have been designed to withstand such an impact. The Key Bridge was built in 1977 when the vessels it was designed to allow to pass under it were much smaller than the massive cargo ships of today. Moreover, the National Transportation Safety Board has stated that the bridge was in satisfactory condition but lacked redundancies. As we move forward, we must take this tragedy as an opportunity to evaluate our infrastructure and ensure that it is prepared to meet the challenges of modern times. For more details on the investigation check out this article in the BBC. https://hubs.ly/Q02s31gJ0 #Bridges #Baltimore #CivilEngineering

Through the #InflationReductionAct, $8M worth of low-embodied materials is slated for use to complete seismic retrofitting at the Mike Mansfield Federal Building in #Butte, #MT to support safety, performance and historic preservation. https://ow.ly/ZZ8450Q7XiR