CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY MARCH 28, 2024
AT LEAST SIX PEOPLE ARE DEAD AS A RESULT OF THE KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSE EARLY TUESDAY MORNING IN BALTIMORE. A CARGO SHIP STRUCK THE BRIDGE AND CAUSED ITS RAPID FALL INTO THE PATAPSCO RIVER.
ENGINEERS ARE BLAMING A STRUCTURAL FLAW IN THE BRIDGE. THE DAILY MAIL REPORTS THOUSANDS OF OTHER BRIDGES MAY HAVE SIMILAR FLAWS AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. MORE MONEY WE DON’T HAVE INSPECTING AND REPAIRING ANY FLAWS. I THOUGHT PRESIDENT BIDEN’S INFRASTRUCTURE LAW WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX SUCH THINGS. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REPAIRS? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MONEY?
SEVERAL EXPERTS INTERVIEWED BY THE DAILY MAIL SAID THE BRIDGE WAS MISSING CRITICAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS THAT WOULD HAVE STOPPED THE CONTAINER SHIP FROM HITTING IT.
THE KEY BRIDGE WAS BUILT IN 1977 AND ANTI-COLLISION DEVICES WEREN’T INSTALLED UNTIL THE 1980S.
INSTALLING WHAT ARE CALLED “FENDERS” WOULD HAVE COST AT LEAST $3 MILLION, BUT THE COLLAPSE MEANS A $15 MILLION PER DAY LOSS IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND $1.5 MILLION DAILY IN STATE AND LOCAL MARYLAND TAXES. IT’S A CASE OF PAY NOW OR PAY MORE LATER.THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BORAD WILL INVESTIGATE. RESULTS MIGHT NOT BE KNOWN FOR MONTHS. RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT SOMETHING PEOPLE LIKE TO TAKE, BUT IT WILL BE HARD TO AVOID IN THIS CASE WHICH, AGAIN, MIGHT HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. I’M CAL THOMAS.
