All articles tagged with #bridges
Researchers have identified six mechanisms that help steel truss bridges resist collapse, offering potential strategies to reinforce aging bridges against failure due to climate change and weather extremes.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in major cities across the U.S. shut down airport highways and bridges, causing travel disruptions and leading to arrests. The protests were part of a global "economic blockade to free Palestine" and called for an immediate cease-fire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Demonstrators in Illinois, California, New York, and the Pacific Northwest disrupted traffic at airports, on bridges, and on a major highway, leading to arrests and temporary closures.
Pittsburgh officials closed several bridges after 26 barges broke loose and floated uncontrolled down the Ohio River, with some plunging over local dams. No hazardous materials were on board, and there were no reports of collisions with bridges or pollution. The McKees Rocks Bridge was temporarily closed as a precaution, and the incident comes just weeks after a bridge collapse near Baltimore. The cause for the barges breaking loose remains unclear, and the Coast Guard's priority is on the unaccounted for vessel.
A recent collision involving a container ship and the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has drawn attention to the vulnerabilities of America's aging bridges, with 1 in 13 bridges in poor condition and at risk of collapse from a single hit. Extreme weather events, heavier trucks, and collisions from larger ships pose significant risks to US bridges, highlighting the urgent need for improvements and protections to guard against potential disasters. The $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure law passed in 2021 could help address some of these issues, but more investment and proactive measures are needed to ensure the safety and resilience of the nation's bridge infrastructure.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited the deteriorated Washington Bridge in Rhode Island, which is one of several hundred bridges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island given a poor rating in a federal database. The bridge, carrying Interstate 195 westbound over the Seekonk River, is in need of replacement, with initial estimates for the project ranging from $250 million to $300 million. Massachusetts has 450 bridges with a poor rating, and the state is actively seeking federal funding for infrastructure improvements. Emergency repairs on other structurally deficient bridges have caused significant delays, highlighting the urgent need for investment in bridge maintenance and replacement.
Philips Hue is addressing a long-standing limitation by allowing users to add multiple Bridges to one account, addressing the 50-device limit that many users have been facing. This update, coming later this year, will enable users to organize their system more efficiently and solve a common smart home problem. While there are still questions about how this feature will be implemented, it represents a step in the right direction for Philips Hue users.
President Biden is set to announce a nearly $5 billion investment into 37 major infrastructure projects across 12 states, with a focus on repairing and building new bridges. The investment includes funding for projects such as replacing the I-5 bridge connecting Washington and Oregon, the Sagamore Bridge in Massachusetts, and the Blatnik Bridge between Wisconsin and Minnesota. This announcement is part of the administration's effort to invest in infrastructure projects, following the passage of key legislation earlier in Biden's presidency. The visit to Wisconsin coincides with the United Auto Workers' endorsement of Biden, with the union praising his support for American workers.
Sustained winds of 20-35 mph with gusts of 40-50 mph are expected in Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida, potentially leading to bridge closures in Jacksonville and St. Johns County. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office have the authority to close bridges if sustained winds reach 40 mph, with closures happening suddenly and without early notice. Residents are advised to stay updated through local media and weather alerts as conditions may change throughout the afternoon.
The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) is assessing and repairing damage caused by a recent storm, with nearly 100 state road closures due to downed trees, power lines, flooding, and significant infrastructure damage. Oxford, Franklin, Somerset, and Kennebec counties are the most affected, particularly near rivers and their tributaries. MaineDOT has closed almost three dozen bridges due to high water levels, and inspections and damage assessments will be conducted once the water recedes. The public is urged to avoid unnecessary travel, check for road closures on newengland511.org, and be patient as crews work to repair the damaged infrastructure.
Explosions targeted critical road bridges connecting occupied Crimea with parts of Kherson region under Russian control, causing a rupture in a gas pipeline and cutting off supplies to 20,000 residents. The Russian-appointed acting head of Kherson region accused Ukraine of using Storm Shadow missiles supplied by the UK. Ukrainian strikes on Russian infrastructure and territory, including drone attacks and targeting an oil tanker and naval base, have escalated tensions. Ukraine has pledged more attacks on Russian shipping and the Crimea bridge, asserting that these operations are legal within its territorial waters.
Explosions targeted critical road bridges connecting occupied Crimea with parts of Kherson region under Russian control, causing a rupture in a gas pipeline and cutting off supplies to 20,000 residents. The Russian-appointed acting head of Kherson region accused Ukraine of using Storm Shadow missiles supplied by the UK. Ukrainian strikes on Russian infrastructure and territory, including a drone attack on a major naval base and a Russian oil tanker, have escalated tensions. Ukraine has pledged more attacks on Russian shipping and the Crimean bridge, asserting that these operations are legal within its territorial waters.
The MTA toll hike has gone into effect, increasing the cost for drivers using bridges and tunnels into New York City. The tolls have risen to $6.94 from $6.55, with a 6% increase for EZ-Pass tags registered in New York and a 10% increase for out-of-state tags billed by mail. Additionally, the MTA fare hike will take effect on August 20, raising bus and subway fares to $2.90 per ride. MTA CEO Janno Lieber stated that the fare hike will be accompanied by increased service during midday, weekends, and nights, as well as a balanced budget for the MTA.
Toll hikes on MTA bridges and tunnels will go into effect this weekend, with E-ZPass users paying 6% more and toll-by-mail customers and out-of-state E-ZPass users paying 10% more. The cost of commuting on subways, buses, Metro-North, and the Long Island Rail Road will also increase, with monthly and weekly tickets on the LIRR and Metro-North increasing by up to 4.5% and the base fare for subways and buses increasing from $2.75 to $2.90. The MTA is also planning to implement congestion pricing tolls in Manhattan next year.
The Illinois Department of Transportation is investing over $40 billion in infrastructure improvements across the state as part of the Rebuild Illinois program. The six-year program will focus on upgrading roads, bridges, public transportation, airports, railroads, and ports. Projects are already underway and will be completed by June 2029. Specific projects include the replacement of the Quincy Memorial Bridge, resurfacing and improvements in Adams County, vertical realignment and bridge replacement in Hancock County, and resurfacing and utility adjustments in McDonough, Fulton, and Knox Counties.
Multichain, a cross-chain router, has confirmed an exploit that affected $130 million in user-supplied tokens, urging users to suspend its services and revoke contract approvals. The exploit impacted bridges on the Fantom, Moonriver, and Dogechain networks, resulting in significant outflows of various tokens. Stolen tokens have not been sent to exchanges or mixing services, and related tokens such as Fantom (FTM), Moonriver (MOVR), and Dogechain (DC) have experienced price drops. Bridges, which facilitate token transfers between networks, have been a vulnerable target, with billions lost to bridge-based exploits in recent years.