We should build a suspension bridge linking North America and Europe

01/14/04 | Destro

[Destro]

We should build a suspension bridge linking North America and Europe

As we ponder going to the Moon again and to Mars, I started to think of projects we Americans can do that can better our lives and the planet.

I propose a suspension bridge be built starting from St. John's in Newfoundland, Canada terminating in Galway, Ireland with a connecting bridge from Belfast to Scotland and on into Europe. This Atlantic Euro-bridge would have two levels of 8 lanes per level and would be able to accommodate freight trucks, passenger vehicles and possibly a freight and passenger train.

The bridge would pay for itself over time via a toll fee.

The airline industry and the ocean freight industry may not like this mover of people and goods but it would be a boon to mankind and to commerce.

It would also help the economically depressed areas of New Foundland, Ireland and Scotland.

[Destro]

How long a drive? People drive coast to coast all the time. It is a 2 day drive with pit stop half way.

And high speed trains can take you to Europe in luxory and in style just as quick if not quicker.

[Petronski]

It's going to be a pedestrian bridge.

LOL A great circle route is about 4000km (2400 miles).

[KingNo155]

Why connect to europe? We left it for a reason?

[Moonman62]

Why don't you get together with Willie and make it a rail line instead?

[kingu]

Those North Atlantic squalls would be an interesting technical challenge to overcome. Perhaps you could put the rest stops and hotels under water, to protect them from the weather.

Don't forget to put the twinkly lights on the top of the towers!

[CindyDawg]

If we are going to build it can we have some kind of constitution ammendment preventing a president from giving it away? Also I think the tolls should all be in dollars and we shouldn't use metrics to build it.

[cyborg]

LOL are we going to see marathons across this bridge? hands across the atlantic (or pond I suppose)?

[Elliott Jackalope]

I think a suspension bridge for rail traffic across the Bering strait would make a LOT more sense. Take a look at a map of the globe, flattened out, as seen from about a thousand miles above the North Pole. Notice anything? Once you see that perspective you'll realize that a rail link between the new world and the old world would be relatively easy to build, and would serve to connect the entire planet via rail. Goods could be shipped pretty much anywhere to anywhere via this link.

[AAABEST]

Could we?

No we couldn't. The Atlantic is several miles deep at some points.

Were you doing bong hits when you came up with this "idea"?

[Destro]

What about all those Socialist Americans? This is just as socialist a country as any in Europe-we just are bad at implementing it. Secondly, America's demographic balance needs more Europeans.

[So Cal Rocket]

Tolls? Somehow, I don't see a huge demand to make a drive that will take 3-4 days on the high seas, when I can take an 8-hour flight.

[dubyagee]

but it would be a boon to mankind and to commerce.

Or a *BOOM* depending on who decides to blow it up first. 8 * (

[KneelBeforeZod]

Someone should make a movie about it first.

Yes, but only if there is some insurmountable problem...and the team is lead by a leathery old vet who has a crew member he doesn't respect who happens to be dating his daughter. The crew member proves he is worthy during some big crisis.Then when the bridge is done, the daughter runs to the crewmember, and instantly knows that dad now accepts him, and dad and daughter break out in tears.

oh and there needs to be a starbucks built every 5 miles.

[BooBoo1000]

How about the short route, Alaska, to Russia, only a few miles.. of course we would have to retain the privilege of blowing it up in times of war..

[Destro]

I'm snowed in.

[Plutarch]

The new SF-Oakland Bay Bridge is 2 miles and costs 2.6 billion.

Your bridge would span, what, 2000 miles? At a conservative 1 billion per mile over open ocean, that would be 2 trillion dollars, which is roughly the GDP of Germany.

Ships would still be competitive with rail and trucks.

Flying would be more competitive than driving for passengers.

No one care whether the Newfies are less economically depressed.

I wouldn't count on such a bridge being built.

[flutters]

It's going to be a pedestrian bridge.

LOL Hopefully it will have a Segway lane.

[jwalsh07]

Would you mind if I opt out?

First of all I have no desrie to build a bridge to socialism in mine or any other lifetime. Second of all, I have for the past decade watched with awe as the Big Dig in Boston, Mass rang up the bell for a cool 15 billion, maybe ten billion or so overbudget and that was jsut a small tunnel.

I don't want to seem negative but I would like for me and mine to be exmpted from paying taxes for this and in return we promise not to drive to France.

[Destro]

Probably--but freight haukers would love it!!

[John H K]

Believe it or not, people have toyed with the idea...was a Discovery Channel special on this sort of thing.

Bridge is impossible.

What you'd build is a floating tunnel that is tethered DEEP underwater, beyond wave action, to the bottom. Then run a super-bullet train through the tunnel.