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.

[AAABEST]

Who's tow truck has jurisdiction.

LMFAO

[hollywood]

Actually, once the Lefties have spent themselves arguing that there's nothing in space worth the money we're spending, we should build a few superguns aimed into space, load them with payloads of trash from around the world, and then blast all our trash away. Voila! No more landfills! Got old motoroil? Supergun it away! 5-year-old fruitcake sitting in the fridge? Turn it into another moon for Jupiter! Got a 70 MGB that's been sitting idle in your garage for 10 years? Fill a black hole with it!

[Loyalist]

I would place the North American terminus at Halifax, Nova Scotia, notjust for parochial reasons, but also because it is on the North American mainland and has excellent rail connections, whereas Newfoundland has none.

The surface distance between Halifax and Galway is 2,474.89 miles (3,982.95 kilometres).

The Confederation Bridge between Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick is 12.9 kilometres long, cost C$1 billion ($US 780 million) and took 3 1/2 years to build.

The two-way toll rate for a private automobile is C$39.00 ($US 30.42) and C$55.75 ($US 43.49) for a truck with one trailer.

If the Trans-Atlantic Bridge toll were calculated on the same dollars per kilometre basis as the Confederation Bridge, a private automobile would pay a two-way toll of about C$12,000.00 ($US 9,360.00).

[Loyalist]

I would place the North American terminus at Halifax, Nova Scotia, notjust for parochial reasons, but also because it is on the North American mainland and has excellent rail connections, whereas Newfoundland has none.

The surface distance between Halifax and Galway is 2,474.89 miles (3,982.95 kilometres).

The Confederation Bridge between Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick is 12.9 kilometres long, cost C$1 billion ($US 780 million) and took 3 1/2 years to build.

The two-way toll rate for a private automobile is C$39.00 ($US 30.42) and C$55.75 ($US 43.49) for a truck with one trailer.

If the Trans-Atlantic Bridge toll were calculated on the same dollars per kilometre basis as the Confederation Bridge, a private automobile would pay a two-way toll of about C$12,000.00 ($US 9,360.00).

[Cultural Jihad]

But what about those crazy Brits driving on the left side of the road...

The left side of the road? You meant to say: the wrong side of the road! ;-)

[ARCADIA]

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.

What, are you kidding? One project would take us to a barren predominently red world, the other to an exiting new planet. It is an easy choice to make....it's Mars or bust for me!

[Destro]

we will never go to Mars or the moon. Bush's announcement hinted at that. It was PR.

[Mike Darancette]

FOllowing your logic we would never have had transcontinental telephone service.

I imagine that Canada and Europe paid a larger proportion of that cable's cost than they would be willing (or able) to pay now.

[Stewart_B]

ROFLMAO!

[Destro]

Nope. Mostly Americans - private funds.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Yeah, but wouldn't the toll be tax-deductible, or something? There would have to be an incentive to use the bridge.

[ARCADIA]

As long as we have all that dirt, why not just fill in the ocean from Nova Scotia to England. Wouldn't a land bridge be kewl?

Perhaps we could dredge France for the dirt and create a nice new European bay at the same time. I am almost certain we can find enough dirt in France to build the trans-Atlantic land bridge (complete with a dozen theme parks and several hundred rest stops).

[Nam Vet]

"I thought of that-plus an overnight motel with parking. A spiral garage like structure can hold lots of cars. "

Great idea! We could view the Titanic from the observation level!

Nam Vet

[Koppite]

and crazy Japanese, Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans not to mention Indonesians, Malaysians, Indians as well as 69 other countries including the US Virgin Islands!

[Mike Darancette]

private funds

The best way!!!

[Quix]

Some folks claim there have been magnetic tube trains transiting the oceans a mile or more deep in the earth for . . . a long time.

Interesting claim.

[NYCVirago]

Heck, we can't even get a suspension bridge built from Staten Island to Manhattan!

[Destro]

Cabin fever made me post!

[OldEagle]

"But what about those crazy Brits driving on the left side of the road... won't they crash into the Americans at the half way point?"

Reminds me of when I lived in France. When a slow train blocked a rural cropssing, the impatient motorists would start "passing" in the left lanes. When the train was gone there were two lanes of traffic facing two lanes of traffic. Took the gendarmes a long while to sort it out.

[SoDak]

And spandex jackets...one for everyone.