Monday, October 25, 2010

freeway fusion

Essentially we are near the spot where three freeways merge.  This section replaced the double deck freeway that collapsed during the huge 1989 earthquake.  After the earthquake, support pier retrofitting went on around the bay.  A new round is going on now in many parts of Oakland.  These really are massive structures.  I used to think of them as temporary shade; since the earthquake I think of them as lethal and hope the new engineering protects us from anymore collapses.

9 comments:

  1. I understand what you are saying - big-time scary. This crosses my mind, at least a little, every time I visit the West Coast. I was actually watching the Giants - A’s World Series game that was going on when the earthquake hit. We are not immune here. The largest earthquake to hit the US was along the New Madrid fault halfway between here in Memphis in 1804. It flattened a lot of St. Louis and, they say, rang church bells in Philadelphia.

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  2. We have overhead highways like this, but no major earthquakes in recorded history. Small shakers do occasionally free a loose brick here and there though...

    Your perspective is something to contemplate.

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  3. I remember the quake of 1989 and that image of the collapsed bridge was all over the news.

    I always love these types of shots !

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  4. Great description of how perception changes after earthquake catastrophe: from "shade" to "lethal structure." I was in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Surreal to say the least.

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  5. I can understand that feeling. They truly are massive.

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  6. Disaster can happen anywhere. I was in Florida on May 9, 1980, when a freighter collided with the Sunshine Bridge. A span of the bridge fell into into Tampa Bay along with some poor souls that were traveling along the bridge in their vehicles. I'll never forget that day as I was only a few miles away.

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  7. 'round here, skyways are the solution to monstrous traffic. although they make the drive a lot faster, can't help but worry but safety in case of an earthquake. wonderful perspective on this photo. Happy Halloween.

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  8. I was living in San Leandro during that earthquake and to this day it gives me the chills when I see pictures this freeway. That earthquake freaked me out more than any other.

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