That one column was holding a beam that dropped and the bridge roadbed dropped about 12" to 18". Should a few hugely loaded trucks driven over that spot it easily could have dropped a section into the river.People are reacting as if London bridge is falling down when in reality Congrejo bridge fractured its wrist...
For the verified record , its literally only 1 metal pillar of about 10 that was broken and if it were not for precautionary common sense , the bridge would most likely be as operable now as it was had they done nothing.
I'm thinking a smart person saw it very quickly and stopped traffic before a very possible full collapse occured. I say it was more like a broken tibula and in a few more steps could have become a compound fracture.