What if the Freeways Fell

 Thread started by 
skd at 07.29.08 - 3:26 pm
 
What if the "big one" hit ( and it is gonna hit one day) and  all the freeways fell or were damaged.  No freeways, clogged surface streets, short tempers.  How would this city survive?
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It will. And they will. And it won't.
And what if it happens as an aftershock?
 imachynna
imachynna07.29.08 - 3:28 pm
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dude. 1994. 14 / 5 interchange fell. if that happens again, im TRAPPED IN HELL HOLE SANTA CLARITA. 
oh my god. what a nightmare. 
 tinycities
tinycities07.29.08 - 3:29 pm
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it would be a lot safer than a freeway takeover...more like Arroyo Fest.
where's Robert Gottlieb?
 CRIMANIMAL
CRIMANIMAL07.29.08 - 3:33 pm
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chaos, panic, disorder, lawlessness...
dead people everywhere...
no government help for a month...
proof of darwinism...
etc...
 adrian
adrian07.29.08 - 3:39 pm
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Lucy Jones was just gave a talk here at work and this actually came up.
There is a big quake scenario coming up (http://www.shakeout.org/scenario/) and they looked at all sorts of results beyond just the shaking itself. I believe FFE, Fire Following Earthquake was the biggest immediate danger, and then disruption of water for anywhere from a few weeks to several months seemed to be another big concern.
Anyhow, here is a snippet on bridges:
Thanks to a $6 billion investment in seismic safety, the State highway system fares well. However, although collapse is avoided, some bridges are non-functional so that much of the highway is not passable on the day of the event. The long duration of shaking takes a greater toll on bridges and overpasses under the jurisdiction of cities and counties where the retrofitting processes are not complete or have not begun. 
 Bellman
Bellman07.29.08 - 3:50 pm
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A big earthquake, one that would down the 405, 101, 10 and the 110 might cause the entire city to rethink it's transportation situation.
Gasoline tankers would have to travel clogged surface streets to supply Gas stations.  Some gas stations might even run out of gas.  
Federal aid would be non-existent, and the castrated, cash-strapped Schwarzenegger State government would be unable to respond.  The city would have to implement a quick plan of taking cars off the streets, just to keep some semblance of order.  Odd, even license plate driving days, etc.  
Only mass transit, pedestrians and bicycles would be able to use the roads daily.  
The "big one" might not be so bad after all.
 skd
skd07.29.08 - 3:52 pm
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I worked in Century City when the Sta. Monica Freeway collapse.  Aside for some confusion for a week or so, things went back to normal.  People adjust.
The freeways are so congested any way, don't think there will be a long term impact in LA.  The bridges spanning the LA river collapsing might have a bigger impact.
 sc_nomad
sc_nomad07.29.08 - 4:12 pm
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Don't you people ride bicycles anymore?
 SPOOK
SPOOK07.29.08 - 4:38 pm
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crimanimalz are gonna have to jump the gap
 azn invazn
azn invazn07.29.08 - 6:20 pm
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We might get lucky and the firearms laws would be changed to suit ourselves.
I know in these situations, every-day, normal people who have lost the privelege to drive will either...
A)Hopefully, go along with the fact that driving is temporarily unfeasible at this point, and go along with the bus/train/bike/cab route.
or 
B)Go totally, fuckin' apeshit and turn dark-seeker, 28 days later, fast-moving zombie, 3 fries short of a happy meal, WAAAAACCCKKKOOOOOO!!!!
And then get met by a CDC-approved, tranq-dart to the ass!!!
 bentstrider
bentstrider07.29.08 - 6:31 pm
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