NY Times: Climate Change Can Cause Bridges to ‘Fall Apart Like Tinkertoys'

[Bitmapped]

NY Times has an article about the effects of climate change on bridges. Free link: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/02/climate/climate-change-bridges.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Hk4.WTAV.LO_ygKlSvzr1&smid=url-share

[jeffandnicole]

These reporters probably have no clue what bridges collapsed from flooding in the 1800s and early 1900s.

Drawbridges getting stuck have occurred since drawbridgez existed.

I didn't realize every severe storm, most of which aren't record breakers, is now a climate change-related storm.

 

[SectorZ]

"Bridges designed and built decades ago with materials not intended to withstand sharp temperature swings are now rapidly swelling and contracting, leaving them weakened."

What do they do in places like the upper Midwest that have annual temp swings of over 150F?

A few years ago there was a road the buckled due to "extreme heat" in Ireland. That extreme heat was 3 degrees F warmer than some July monthly averages I've had in Massachusetts. That's not climate change, that's poor engineering.

FWIW, the NYT writer has a degree in English, so I hope she's gotten further education in writing about her preferred subject of "energy and environment policy"

[kalvado]

Political agenda is everything. So 1950s infrastructure with design lifespan of 50-70 years is certainly failing due to climate change and certain president in office.

And it's well known that infrastructure has 4 major problems - winter, summer, fall and spring. And especially when it happens totally unexpectedly, like snow in December.