This thing is meant to be holding up the road, but earlier this week they noticed a small problem. please log in to view this image Thankfully the other end is still doing its job, if it had given out as well the road would drop 6 inches instantly, and possibly further if the shock from that drop (or just the weight resting lower down over time) caused further damage. Apparently there's another 8 of these along the bridge that are in danger of cracking though. So that's the bridge having a long Xmas holiday as they've said they can't complete repairs before New Year. For brilliant timing, my company is based in Fife (at the north of the bridge) and tomorrow we're doing a Xmas party for a company based 5 minutes up the road from us, they've chosen a venue in Edinburgh NB: I'm laughing because it's my day off tomorrow, if I was working I'd be less amused at the 25 minute journey becoming a 90 minute one (based on the drive over to setup today)
I can't help thinking that having a controlled explosion near it a month or so ago can't be a coincidence. 51 years without this being a problem, an explosion, 9 issues all occurring within 2 months. I know things can have a lifespan, but all of the parts having the same problem in such a short space of time after being fine all that time seems a bit too consistent to be natural wear and tear.
No doubt, I think it's more remarkable that I got over it earlier in the week though, especially as if it had gone tits up I can't swim that well.
Good news, as the Forth Road Bridge is falling down the committee in charge of the new one have announced it will be built using silver and gold. I've just been recruited to watch it all night whilst smoking the pipe they're going to provide me. Alternative designs were rejected as they relied on using wood and clay (which would wash away), bricks and mortar (which would not stay), and iron and steel (which would bend and bow).
There's genuinely a thread about bridges. On a Friday night. I thought it was a joke. I spend one night marking books and come back to this. You lot can't be trusted. No larkin out fer any ya.
They were already building a new £1.4 billion one as it is nearing the end of its anticipated lifespan. Amazing how some places can get these amounts lavished on them whilst round here has difficulty getting a minor road improvement and pedestrian bridge. Meanwhile the much older railway bridge carries on, a testament to the excellence of Victorian engineering in comparison to later stuff. Daft sod of a Sky presenter was puzzled when they showed it as he always thought it was red..He did know that as soon as it was painted they had to start again, though that is in fact an urban myth.
