Comments by "Mat Broomfield" (@matbroomfield) on "Italy bridge: Moment of Genoa motorway collapse - BBC News" video.

  1. Precisely, which is why I was objecting to the fact that the report said it fell during heavy rain, as though there was any correlation. You wouldn't report "The bridge fell on a glorious sunny day" so if the rain had no effect why mention it?
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  2. Why would this make you think that it's part of some bigger picture? Building collapse, earth quakes, hurricanes, tsunamis and volcanoes happens, and people are shitty to each other. This has ALWAYS happened. It's a safer time to live than at any time in history - crime is lower, our buildings are safer, we can resist the elements better, and we see potential disasters sooner. The only difference is we hear about things more.
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  3. Heavy rain? Jeez if a few tons of water is enough to make the difference it was poorly designed in the first place.
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  4. Thank you. I'm glad you get the point I was making. I don't for a second think that the weight of rain brought down a bridge that can probably handle dozens of 10 ton lorries at a time and a hundred 1 ton cars. My entire objection was the simplistic implication that the weight of rain had somehow caused its crash. If every report is going to mention the rain, then explain why that was a factor. Clearly the rain on a single day is not enough for undetected corrosion. But what possible component of the bridge could be left open such that a single heavy rainfall would cause catastrophic failure? I can't think of any conceivable element can you?
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  5. Yes I can see how that would work. Your suggestion about the loads surely would have revealed itself long before now though if it's been up for 50 years? Wasn't that what caused the recent bridge failure at the university campus in Miami?
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