Monday, January 12, 2015

Officials temporarily closed down the Golden Gate Bridge By-Nina Bharadwaj, 2nd period

     
     At midnight on January 10, the Golden Gate Bridge was temporarily closed down in order for officials to install a safety barrier that will increase efficiency and safety with traffic. Only cyclists, runners, and busses were allowed to cross the bridge. It was estimated that the bridge would reopen at 4am on Monday, but it opened earlier than scheduled. Officials say that this safety barrier will prevent 128 head-on collisions that have occurred since 1970 on the bridge. 
     Around late Saturday, the barrier was completely placed on the bridge with workers only making minor adjustments to it.  The process of laying down the barrier on the 1.7 mile-long-bridge involved 3,500 concrete cubes that were attached by steel pins. This is the longest period of time that the bridge has been shut down, since it was opened 77 years ago in May of 1937.
The placement of a safety barrier on the bridge seems to be a very good idea, considering how it will make the bridge more efficient and secure. The numerous accidents that have taken place on this bridge in a period of 45 years is awful. Even worse, are the 16 fatalities. This large safety barrier is an extreme improvement from the small 19-inch plastic tubes that served to separate opposing traffic lanes, so one can only hope that this number of accidents and deaths will drastically decrease.
Source: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/01/11/golden-gate-bridge-shuts-to-install-safety-barrier/

6 comments:

  1. It was probably really inconvenient to have the bridge shut down, but the improvements are definitely worth it.

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  2. Good think they are repairing the bridge wouldnt want any crazy thing happening like it breaking.

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  3. It's better to be safe than sorry as the old saying goes. I think that while drivers' journeys might have been delayed, it was certainly for their benefit and future drivers on the bridge.
    Elizabeth Muscari 6th pd

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  4. I completely agree with Elizabeth. Even thought it might be inconvenient, it's going to save many lives.

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  5. I'm sure that many (especially those who are dependent upon the bridge to travel to and from work) were certainly inconvenienced by the shut-off, yet safety measure such as these are so worth the time and expense endured.
    - Sophia Davison

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  6. Just like any creation and invention in America, there have been fatalities during the making and deaths because of it. It's great that they are trying to make it safer. It reminds me in a way of the Panama Canal of the dangerous creation of it.
    Maddie Murphy pd. 6

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