Last Tuesday, Baltimore witnessed an unthinkable tragedy as the Key Bridge collapsed following a collision with a cargo ship. Built in 1977, the landmark was considered to be in ‘fair’ condition at the time of its collapse. Many experts argue that no bridge could withstand the force of such a massive ship collision, while others contend that the lack of key preventative measures, like ‘concrete dolphins,’ contributed to the disaster. The bridge was 47 years old, nearing its typical lifespan of 50 years.
This prompts the question: was it time to upgrade this bridge?