Baltimore's Bridge to Nowhere?

The recent collision of a cargo ship with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has raised important questions about the wisdom of rebuilding the bridge. With estimates of replacing the bridge costing over $1 billion, Baltimore needs to assess whether it makes sense to rebuild a bridge that could be put at risk of collision with cargo ships sailing under it.

The risks of building in areas that are known to be earthquake zones or flood zones must be taken into account when constructing new infrastructure. While there are certainly cheaper Mercedes on the market, the long-term costs and risks of ownership must also be considered.

Government policies that reward bad choices, such as encouraging the rebuilding of flood-prone areas, only serve to warp market forces and lead to poor decisions. Instead, a responsible government should be focused on investing in areas that are more likely to yield positive long-term results.

The destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge is a tragedy, but it also presents an opportunity to rethink the approach to infrastructure planning and to ask the hard questions about whether rebuilding the bridge is worth the risk in the long run.

It remains to be seen whether Baltimore will rise to the occasion and make the tough decisions necessary for the long-term economic health of the city and its citizens.

Read more: A Cheap Mercedes May Be Expensive Down The Line, But What About A Beautiful Bridge?