The accidental collapse of road and railway bridges often takes place in many countries. Accidental bridge collapse often leads to the loss of lives, property damage and the disruption of transportation systems. The 2001 Hintze Ribeiro Bridge collapse in northern Portugal, the 2007 I-35W Mississippi River Bridge collapse in Minnesota of the United States and the 2018 Morandi Bridge collapse in Genoa in Italy are some examples of the accidental collapse of bridges in the world in the 2000s. Very recently, according to multiple sources including the BBC and CNN, the Baltimore Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland of the United States collapsed after a Singapore-bound cargo ship hit its pillar, leading to several deaths last month.
It is notable that construction-based, maintenance-oriented and other cases lead to accidental bridge collapses in different countries. Poor maintenance, design flaws, overloading of the structure, a lack of proper inspections and poor quality control during construction are some notable causes. According to multiple sources, the causes of the 2018 collapse of the Morandi Bridge in Genoa, which led to the death of 43, was driven by a combination of causes including a lack of proper maintenance and inspection of the bridge. Among others, accidental hits by ships and natural disasters (such as earthquakes, floods, landslides and winds) lead to the accidental collapse of bridges many times. For example, a section of the Jiujiang Bridge over the Xijiang River in the Guangdong Province of China collapsed after being hit by a boat — laden with sand — in 2007, leading to 9 deaths.
Countries definitely take various steps to address bridge collapses that result in improved capacity and reduced casualties. Different countries implement stricter inspection and maintenance protocols, invest in infrastructure upgrades and conduct safety audits to identify potential risks and hazards. Additionally, some countries have established emergency response teams specifically trained to handle collapses of bridges, crucial for connecting communities and facilitating transportation, in order to minimize casualties and facilitate quick rescue operations. For example, according to multiple sources, the 2007 collapse of the I-35W Minneapolis Bridge saw swift action from first responders and volunteers who rescued numerous individuals from the wreckage. But there are diverse limitations in the steps taken in different countries.
There are inadequate inspection protocols, delays in implementing necessary repairs and a lack of funding for infrastructure maintenance in different countries. Additionally, and importantly, there is a lack of effective coordination and delayed rescue and recovery efforts, leading to avoidable high casualties many times. According to multiple sources, there were delayed responses to different bridge collapses including, but not limited to, the 2018 Morandi Bridge collapse, driven by a lack of effective coordination, unfavorable weather conditions and other causes. Among others, bureaucratic inefficiencies hinder effective responses to bridge collapses many times — further exacerbating the problem and putting public safety at risk.
It is definitely difficult to prevent the accidental collapses of bridges completely. But steps need to be strengthened to reduce the chance of such collapse and minimize casualties. The emphasis needs to be given to the inspections and maintenance of infrastructure and implementing advanced monitoring systems to detect any signs of risks before a collapse occurs. But, importantly, rescue efforts need to be strengthened to ensure rescue at the soonest possible time to save lives. Among others, international collaborations may help improve the capacity of rescue operations in many countries.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
