SENTINEL WATCH March 31, 2008 Issue

BRIDGES AND TUNNELS—SUPPORTED BY PRAYER

JOHN DANIELS

Major Failures, such as last year's collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis and the fall of a concrete ceiling slab in a tunnel in Boston tend to send out shock waves of fear about the safety of such structures. They led a number of states to examine the condition of road and rail bridges, which didn't always result in satisfactory findings. More recently, Amtrak announced the need to spend tens of millions of dollars to replace defective railroad ties in the Northeast Corridor, which links major cities on the US East Coast.

For the millions of people who travel on highways or railways around the world, these kinds of reports are anything but theoretical, especially if "their" bridge or tunnel happens to be the one that's labeled dangerous. Some people deal with the threat of danger fatalistically: "If my time is up, it will collapse, and if it isn't, I'll get across (or through) it safely." Others may grit their teeth until habit wears down the fear. I'd like to propose prayer as a way not only to remove fear but also to support those who are responsible for the care and upkeep of these structures.

One approach I've found helpful is to recognize that beyond their material makeup, bridges and tunnels specifically represent a concept: the freedom to cross a barrier—a river or other divide—that would otherwise severely constrain our movement. Highways and railways also enable us to connect with others more readily. In essence, a nation's infrastructure has a "uniting" function, providing ready access to the widespread good in our communities.