Društvo| Moj grad

Suspension and Bridges

Chris Farmer RSS / 31.01.2010. u 10:09

What we need in Belgrade, really, is a suspension bridge.

We need a bridge that will suspend our doubts about ever having enough viable bridges. We need a bridge that will suspend our disbelief about the dangers of travelling over the Gazela Bridge.

After the early reports of the damage to the pylons holding Gazela above the water's surface, I immediately had a picture in my mind of cars and trucks driving merrily into a gaping hole and over the edge to pile up in the Sava. Lemming-like, on the second day after the announcement, I was driving to New Belgrade behind a huge line of cars to cross this bridge. Given the option of driving through town, adding an extra hour at least to the crossing, and risking it all to use the bridge, I chose the latter. I consulted my passengers and they sided with me. We chose the danger.

Suspension of disbelief.

The news of the damaged pylons made me think of the dramatic bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minnesota two years ago which claimed the lives of 13 and injured many more. In the meantime, Belgrade city authorities keep telling us it is safe to use and will be fixed in 15 days. They neglected to tell us when the 15 days would start...  

For years there have been calls for more bridges and plans to renovate the Gazela bridge. It was supposed to start two years ago, then last year, then this summer, and now - given the pressing need - sometime adjacent to now. The works have been delayed and delayed. The last mayoral race in Belgrade was run partially on the amount of time it would take to build a new bridge in Ada (2 years? 3 years? 4 years?).

With the new traffic law in place, forcing motorists to attach bluetooth devices to their ears that look like Borg implants, the next step was only logical. The strategy has been to wait until it breaks down or until Star Trek transporter technology could be made available and eliminate the need for cars and bridges altogether.  Apparently, due to some mix up in customs with the Heisenberg subspace field compensator, the cracks came first.

The suspension of reality bridges are already here. We will proceed Monday morning to this and that side of the Sava without major interruption. We will continue to curse the bridges and traffic. We will continue to dream of easily flowing traffic from New to old Belgrade. We will suspend our disbelief that it will ever be done in our lifetimes. And we will suspend the belief that it will be our car which will be the last to cross the Gazela bridge before it crumbles.

You have the bridge, Scotty. Stand by to transport.

Atačmenti



Komentari (7)

Komentare je moguće postavljati samo u prvih 7 dana, nakon čega se blog automatski zaključava

zmajoliki zmajoliki 11:30 31.01.2010

Belgrade bridge is falling down

Aye, sir.
Just entering the coordinates.
Dawngreeter Dawngreeter 11:50 31.01.2010

Belgrade bridge is falling down...

Belgrade having bridge issues? When did this happen?

jednatanja jednatanja 12:15 31.01.2010

Istanbul bridge

Bili Piton Bili Piton 16:16 31.01.2010

This issue,


coupled with the recent news item about the cutting of the trees in the Boulevard, opened my eyes to a simple fact that problems relating to the reprehensible overall neglect (key word!) in which Belgrade has been living in the past decades will start popping up a lot more frequently in the period to come, which is both frustrating and depressing.
srdjan.pajic srdjan.pajic 16:29 31.01.2010

who dares - wins!

"Given the option of driving through town, adding an extra hour at least to the crossing, and risking it all to use the bridge, I chose the latter. I consulted my passengers and they sided with me. We chose the danger."

You really are becoming one of us! (meaning a Serb, not U.S. )

EDIT: When you stop considering risk in any action you are taking, and particularly consulting your passengers on anything, you should be awarded citizenship.
Bili Piton Bili Piton 16:38 31.01.2010

Re: who dares - wins!

srdjan.pajic


You really are becoming one of us!


Totally
vishnja92 vishnja92 19:39 31.01.2010

Re: who dares - wins!

Lemming-like

:)))

Arhiva

   

Kategorije aktivne u poslednjih 7 dana