I don't understand why people are almost not even happy with the fact that they are building OVER KILL into this bridge.
The prev Bridge FAILED to do its Job.. it was dangerous , it literally cracked . I would think
just sayin
As a civil engineer I have to respectfully disagree.
The old bridge failed from poor maintenance and some questionable welds. It was old for a steel bridges in a tropical environment.
Those type bridges require frequent inspection, painting with industrial rust preventative paint and even periodic rivet or bolt replacement. And cathodic protection should be used on a steel bridge's substructure.
In fact sacrificial anodes are also used in concrete bridges subject to elevated salt exposure to reduce corrosion to reinforcing rebar.
Just like a car in the snow where ice is used in the winter - it limits its life.
Someone is painting every day on the Golden Gate Bridge (yeah I know that's a different animal).
But that old bridge was built when the North Coast was a just handful of old Jewish farmers & refugees from Austria and Germany who came under Trujillo. It was never designed to handle over-loaded rock trucks hauling boulders for a Marriott artifical beach, nor semi tractor trailers at 50 MPH. It was a testament to it's strength it lasted 70 years.
I recall when they were hauling those boulders for the Marriott breakwater on DR1 we discussed the road damages being caused and questions were raised about that bridge being able to withstand it.
