Washington State Wants to Build a Bridge Out of Old Aircraft Carriers - Polidicks

[thumb]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CCO0-auVEAIqIZJ.jpg[/thumb] [QUOTE] In the not-too-distant future, drivers in Washington state could cross the Sinclair Inlet on a bridge made of two or three decommissioned aircraft carriers. It may sound like a wild pipe dream or a portrait of military dystopia, but the idea is under active consideration by the state, which has received federal funds to study its feasibility. No aircraft carrier is available for the project—not yet, at least. Currently, the backers of the project have their eyes on the USS Independence, which was commissioned in the 1960s and could go to the salvage yard later this year, and the USS Kitty Hawk, a carrier that sailed in the Vietnam War after its 1958 commission. Of course, we would be remiss not to recommend the USS Enterprise, which was recently decommissioned. [/QUOTE] [url]http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-ships/a15047/washington-state-aircraft-carrier-bridge/[/url]

Wouldn't there be massive issues with other vessels sailing through that point?

That'd be fucking badass guys My dad's always been into military stuff, if they follow through with this then I'm definitely going to travel across the country just to drive over it (But wouldn't the big size of them restrict passage from larger boats?) ^ninja'd

I don't care how structurally unsound it is. This must happen.

[QUOTE=Lone_Star94;47522536]Wouldn't there be massive issues with other vessels sailing through that point?[/QUOTE] [URL]https://www.google.com/maps/@47.5367369,-122.6363378,13z[/URL] There's not a whole lot down there, and I don't remember seeing any houses along the water there. It's really just a highway. Honestly, I don't see the point for it. They're just cutting down a five minute drive.

Would be amazing if they made them into museums too. Kinda like the HMS Belfast minus the bridge bit.

Would be prime real-estate for roadside attractions beyond driving across flight decks in the first place.

The navy already said they're gonna sell the ships to a scrap yard in Texas. While it is a cool idea, i highly doubt it will happen.

superpower as fuck

Glorious america.

Should make them out of the aircraft carrier's decks and make it a normal bridge structure underneath to not disrupt waterflow/traffic

[QUOTE=nox;47522569]I don't care how structurally unsound it is. This must happen.[/QUOTE] Too right. Plus if America ends up all Mad Max the Carrier Bridge would appear like an ancient cultural wonder, possibly managed by some sort of cargo cult.

[QUOTE=ironman17;47522872]Too right. Plus if America ends up all Mad Max the Carrier Bridge would appear like an ancient cultural wonder, possibly managed by some sort of cargo cult.[/QUOTE] Fuck yeah, or I'd be a city or a bandit fortress.

Either of those could work, or BOTH, like if you combined Bartertown with the secret base of the big bad from Waterworld.

[QUOTE=ironman17;47522872]Too right. Plus if America ends up all Mad Max the Carrier Bridge would appear like an ancient cultural wonder, possibly managed by some sort of cargo cult.[/QUOTE]or 3 rivet cities

[QUOTE=Lone_Star94;47522536]Wouldn't there be massive issues with other vessels sailing through that point?[/QUOTE] No, they'd still be active and have engines, just lay them end to end as a bridge and when something needs to pass, lift the anchor and let it through.

[QUOTE=Code3Response;47522867]Should make them out of the aircraft carrier's decks and make it a normal bridge structure underneath to not disrupt waterflow/traffic[/QUOTE] At that point it'd just be waaay cheaper to build the bridge normally.

[QUOTE=zakedodead;47522969]No, they'd still be active and have engines, just lay them end to end as a bridge and when something needs to pass, lift the anchor and let it through.[/QUOTE] I feel like keeping 3 of the largest ships ever built in working condition would be massively expensive. They could just use tugs to move them.

[QUOTE=zakedodead;47522969]No, they'd still be active and have engines, just lay them end to end as a bridge and when something needs to pass, lift the anchor and let it through.[/QUOTE] Do you realize how much it costs to even keep one of those running? Hell, half of them most likely don't have active engines/working gauges anyway, the entire things would have to be overhauled, a massive staff to move the ships would have to be trained, and then there is the disruption in traffic when something does need to get through. You may as well just build a swing bridge, it'd be cheaper.

I looked at the map and there's nothing major down there. I guess the people that own the yachts on that one dock would be upset, and the one dock with the barges. I doubt that'll stop Washington State from building a boat-bridge if they want to.

[QUOTE=MR-X;47522829]The navy already said they're gonna sell the ships to a scrap yard in Texas. While it is a cool idea, i highly doubt it will happen.[/QUOTE] Eh the navy has changed plans before, the scrap yard is really the last place, if someone offers to take them they usually agree

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;47523236]At that point it'd just be waaay cheaper to build the bridge normally.[/QUOTE] but this way you can call it art

[QUOTE=zakedodead;47522969]No, they'd still be active and have engines, just lay them end to end as a bridge and when something needs to pass, lift the anchor and let it through.[/QUOTE] Do uou realize how many people it takes to run one of those things

[QUOTE=zakedodead;47522969]No, they'd still be active and have engines, just lay them end to end as a bridge and when something needs to pass, lift the anchor and let it through.[/QUOTE] Impossible, their engineering plants were removed after decommisioning, even if the did still have them, one of the ships plants are [b]NUCLEAR[/b], not conventional. Its unlikely traffic goting thru that tiny inlet is too big to fit under, its not like tankers commonly travel there.

Imagine those three motherfuckers laid end to end. USS Independence [img]http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/3-the-nimitz-class-aircraft-carrier-uss-stocktrek-images.jpg[/img] USS KittyHawk [img]http://www.militaryfactory.com/ships/imgs/uss-kitty-hawk-cv63_13.jpg[/img] USS Enterprise [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/TaskForce_One.jpg[/img]

Y'know, while we're on the subject of repurposing old aircraft carriers, I wonder how feasible it would be for someone to turn one of them into a shopping center of some sort. There's a hell of a lot of space on those things and they usually have a lot of facilities for all the crewmen on board, it'd be a pretty interesting premise at least

[QUOTE=Code3Response;47522867]Should make them out of the aircraft carrier's decks and make it a normal bridge structure underneath to not disrupt waterflow/traffic[/QUOTE] I feel like no on in this thread realizes where they're attempting to build this bridge. The water past the point at which it would be constructed is not navigable. Boat traffic is irrelevant. [editline]14th April 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=MadPro119;47523707]Imagine those three motherfuckers laid end to end. USS Independence [t]http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/3-the-nimitz-class-aircraft-carrier-uss-stocktrek-images.jpg[/t][/QUOTE] that's the USS Abraham Lincoln - still very much in service This is the USS Independence CV-62 [t]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Uss_independence_cv-62.jpg[/t] [editline]14th April 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=zakedodead;47522969]No, they'd still be active and have engines, just lay them end to end as a bridge and when something needs to pass, lift the anchor and let it through.[/QUOTE] No. The ships have been inactive for quite some time. They are not capable of propelling themselves without significant repair. They would most likely be permanently run aground. [editline]14th April 2015[/editline] And they would never pick the Big E (USS Enterprise CVN-65). It had a nuclear power plant which has to be cut out of the ship and disposed of at Naval Base Kitsap. The ship will be towed from Newport News to Bremerton in 2017 to be cut up and the reactor compartments disposed of at Hanford. There won't be anything left of that ship to turn into a bridge, sadly.

Actually most small vessels would probably still be able to pass between the carriers. There is a significant overhang on the front of those things, and the width would probably be enough, although for sailboats they might have masts that would not allow them to pass if they are permanently affixed.

[QUOTE=Ta16;47523631]Impossible, their engineering plants were removed after decommisioning, even if the did still have them, one of the ships plants are [b]NUCLEAR[/b], not conventional. Its unlikely traffic goting thru that tiny inlet is too big to fit under, its not like tankers commonly travel there.[/QUOTE] Pretty sure these are all conventional carriers, the ones a forstall class and the Kitty hawk is its own class. The enterprise is not really a suggestion since the majority of the ship will need to be gutted removing the 8 powerplants, it would be neat but this doesn't seem practical at all

[QUOTE=mecaguy03;47524231]Actually most small vessels would probably still be able to pass between the carriers. There is a significant overhang on the front of those things, and the width would probably be enough, although for sailboats they might have masts that would not allow them to pass if they are permanently affixed.[/QUOTE] Don't let the carriers be smoochin' up on eachother, put them with a few hundred feet between and then bridge that gap with a bridge.