Does anyone know if this is the first time that a major U.S. port has been blocked by debris?
For instance I know that the Coronado Bridge in San Diego is built out of box sections (I actually was able to walk through them on a tour once). The rumor is that the box sections (with dogged bulkhead doors) were so designed because in the event of a bridge failure, the sections could be towed out of the way. 32nd street Naval Base is inside the bridge.
I forget the real reason for the box sections, given on the tour, but it was not because they would float. Maybe they would break up in a way so as to not impede navigation???
Likely built that way for earthquake damage mitigation. It's a whole lot easier, faster, and more economical to replace a section or two than an entire bridge.
I think you are right. Something about how a box section handles P waves and S-waves.
We always built box bridges in 40' sections. I don't know all the science behind it, but I was told it was because of earthquakes.
