Expert: Baltimore bridge collapse

Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early on Tuesday after a container ship smashed into a pylon, sending eight people into frigid water below. Authorities stopped people from using the bridge after getting a mayday call, which Maryland's governor said saved lives. (CTV News) 

Here is an expert from McGill University who can comment on this issue: 

Daniele Malomo, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering 

"The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is a tragic yet historically quite common failure mode. A 2018 report from the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure, states that from 1960-2015, at least 18 bridges have collapsed due to ship collision in US alone. Old bridges have seldom been designed to withstand such unexpected impact forces, and protective measures, such as barriers, should be put in place to safeguard them when impact risk is substantial." 

Daniele Malomo is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering. His research interests include structural assessment and retrofit of existing structures and infrastructures, forensic investigations, collapse analysis, and earthquake engineering. 

daniele.malomo [at] mcgill.ca (English)