"Enhancing Bridge Safety: Preventing Ship Collisions and Collapses"
The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after being struck by a cargo ship, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the concrete dolphins meant to protect it. Experts suggest that the dolphins, built in the 1970s, were insufficient to prevent such a collision, especially given the increase in size and weight of modern cargo ships. While newer bridges are required to have robust collision prevention structures, older bridges like the Key Bridge are not strictly required to be fortified or replaced. The lack of investment in infrastructure maintenance and upgrades poses dangerous consequences, highlighting the need for prioritizing and addressing critical infrastructure vulnerabilities.