TERRORISTS TARGET CA BRIDGES!

KFBK Radio | 11-1-01 | self

[evilsmoker]

Talk show host Tom Sullivan just reported that during a press conference Gov. Davis said he was notified that there is evidence that terrorists plan to target the Coronado Bridge (San Diego), the Golden Gate & Bay Bridges (San Francisco) and an LA Bridge (didn't catch the name) tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 2nd.

[freeasinbeer]

Well, after Sept. 11th, there was NO boat traffic allowed to even go near either of the bridges in San Francisco.

All of the bridges mentioned could be valid targets, but if they are going for impact, the most obvious target for me would be one of the two bridges here in the Bay area.

The Golden Gate, as many have pointed out is a major tourist attracion, and is what you would consider a symbolic target.
It's destruction would be considered a moral blow to the nation, much like the Pentagon was, but not one that will cause widespread damage in many aspects of life, like the WTC was.

Now, the Bay Bridge is a different story. It is the workhorse of the entire region, and is the second busiest bridge in the world. It is also THE major tie for San Franciso to Oakland, and much of the cargo/supplies etc. that come by truck into the city. The destruction of the Bay Bridge would be catastrophic to the economy of the area, in addition to the fact that it is about 10 times busier than the Golden Gate.

[sit-rep]

Additionally, depth of the water is a possible situation if a span of the bridge fell. But, all aircraft carriers are outside the bridge parked on Coronado Island. The other ships would have no problem driving over a fallen piece of the bridge on high tide...the water is deep enough.

[L.N. Smithee]

I went to work in the East Bay Area (Oakland and beyond) the day of the attack since I hadn't been told not to go. As I drove across, I had a flashback to my days as a young boy, when I would silently pray as our family's car crossed the Bay Bridge. I illogically feared it might blow over due to the winds that swept the bay's surface, and we would drown.

That fateful Tuesday, I didn't worry about the wind -- I was looking left and right to see if a jet was in the air, knowing that any planes still airborne were flying unauthorized and could only be up to no good. I couldn't imagine what in the world I could do besides pray if a jet hit the bridge.

[A Navy Vet]

Yeah, I saw the banner. I whined to Jim Robinson one last time and he was gracious enough to place it. Care to come down this way and help with the increasing patrols?

[stayout]

In fact, there are two Navy bases that would be affected by a collapse of the Coronado Bridge. The first would be 32nd Street N.A.S., which is the home for Amphibious Group 3 (lots of ships, including U.S.S. Tarawa (LHA-1) on which I have proudly served). The other is the Amphib training base across the channel, near the Hotel Del Coronado.

On the other hand, there would be at least two Navy bases in San Diego Bay not affected: North Island N.A.S. (where the full-sized nuclear carriers moor), and the Point Loma sub base.

[AgThorn]

For example, IS there a major bridge in Los Angeles? I thought L.A. had no harbor or port, no major ravines, hence no place for a "signature bridge" (as we call it in the bridge business).

The combined Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor is the busiest harbor in the world I think, as far as container traffic. I know for certain, it is true for North America.

[homeschool mama]

Is that the bridge that came down during the last earthquake? My brother in law was on his way to work that morning and missed it by approximately 2 minutes.

Very busy during rush hour besides having a steady flow of traffic t/o the day.

[rolling_stone]

Sorry to say but you are wrong the bridge has never been opened up. I drove over the Bridge the day it opened and have travelled it regularly (also under it by boat). Aircraft Carriers are at North Island north of the bridge, and at the opening to the san diego bay across from Point Loma. Other ships are at 32nd Street near National City. Two sections of the bridge were designed to float in case of an earthquake or bombing so ships could get past it. In WWII there were also plans to blow up the Silver Strand should need be to allow ships to leave.

[ru4liberty]

We have a bridge in LA? News to me!

Of course! You need them to cross that big, wide expanse called the Los Angeles River. ;-)

[henbane]

Might be a good idea to let threads develop for more than six minutes before leaping in with a rude "worthless" dismissal.

FR is generally one of the first media venues to report these kinds of key information points. Your hair-trigger and somewhat overweening dismissal of news-alert threads has an ugly tone about it.

The last thing we want to do is to pour your kind of abrasive sand into FR's smoothly running engine of rapid information dispersal.

[tallhappy]

There are 7 bridges that cross the Bay.

I can think of Bay Bridge, Richmond, Golden Gate, Dunbarton and another down San Jose way.

Oh yeah, I don't usually think of the Carquinez Straits bridge as crossing the bay -- but it would be a major target.

For number 7 do you mean the one up near Antioch?

I consider those the delta.

[bootless]

From KGO: Greg Jarret just mentioned that some of the wire copy mentioned that some suitcases were removed from a bridge, or an area near it (GGB or Bay) - no details yet. Knowing this area, probably some Earth First nutcase trying to scare the civilized part of the Bay Area...

[celtic gal]

The Coronado Bay Bridge is a big deal... there are carriers among other ships in port there. There is the Marine Corps Recruit Depot and the SD Airport just on the mainland not far away. On Coronado itself there is the Anphibious Base and NAS North Island... And there is a resort feel to the place as well as many expnesive homes... If you have never been there, be sure to visit if you come to San Diego. We used to call it a real " hardship tour" tongue in cheek...It is a lovely place to be stationed. I loved it there.

[MetalliDragon]

Well, I stand corrected, though I'm quite certain that if the necessity presented itself, the bridge could be moved. I doubt they designed it that way so it would never be used.

[rangerX]

The bridge is on the South Side of North Island Naval Air Station where the CVs tie up. 32nd Street Naval Station, where the rest of the fleet ties up, is South of the bridge.

P.S. I live here.

[pbear8]

If IT went down, it could do havac to ship traffic, but vehicular traffic can get around via two other bridges.

Obviously you've never had to drive through Wilmington to get to Long Beach.

[AgThorn]

I agree. Now I hope that my correction to Illbay (or whatever his name is) regarding the twin ports of LA/LongBeach having a very large harbor is not interpreted that way!! ;-)

[Stefan Stackhouse]

A time of particular concern tomorrow:

0800 PST = rush hour
1000 CST & 1100 EST = probably peak population in central business districts of most major cities
1600 GMT = people still at work in London or just starting to go home
1800 Israel = start of Shabat

[PokeyJoe]

Gosh, these "Kilroy" pictures have me LMAO.

[skeeter]

another down San Jose way.

San Mateo bridge, which is north of the Dunbarton.