The recent Baltimore bridge collapse has now claimed the lives of three bridge workers, with three others still missing after the early morning tragedy of March 26. The six were among eight construction workers fixing potholes on the Francis Scott Key Bridge when it was struck by a container ship and collapsed into the Patapsco River below. Only two bridge workers survived, with recovery efforts to find the bodies of the remaining three still ongoing.
Among the many online condolences and tributes, we found this early one on LinkedIn particularly poignant, written by Domingo Noriega, Associate Vice President of AECOM, the multinational infrastructure consulting firm:
They work at night, when we sleep, to take advantage of the fact that we sleep and do not travel. They generally drink coffee, strong, to overcome the ever-present circadian rhythm. Like little ants, at night they do things on the roads that we may not notice, repairing potholes, cleaning shoulders, installing or maintaining the equipment to monitor traffic. I have employees like that, and I pray for them when they go to those noble tasks.
Six of them are missing.
The bridge will soon be rebuilt and will cost hundreds of millions. It does not matter. It is only material, money. They, those six, will not return to their loved ones.
Glory to them.
For many of us here in Florida, this event harkens back to the tragedy of the Sunshine Skyway collapse in 1980 and makes us wonder how we can better protect these essential workers that make sure the everyday conveniences we take for granted run smoothly. These people already sacrifice so many daily luxuries adopting a nocturnal lifestyle, the least we could extend them is a hand in solidarity by understanding their importance in an ever-dependent transportation system, one of the cores of commerce.
Some 8,000 Floridians work in bridge and road repair, an area that now feels very vulnerable. The sacrifices of these men and women reach a new intensity in the face of such tragedy, when the gravity of their line of work is truly tangible, for both them and the rest of us that depend on their behind-the-scenes upkeep. Thank you to all the workers who risk their well-being so that our roads and bridges may run on time, safely.
See you on the trail,
Lisa
LMA Newsletter of 4-8-24
