alt Hacker NewsThe whole promise of engineering is not to build a bridge that stands but to build a bridge that barely stands. It is not a good idea to build a bridge that last 500 years. You likely destroyed valuable resources to build one. Build a bridge that lasts 100 years and save those resources. In 100 years the technology to build bridges improves so much that it is lot easier to build a new one. At least in most countries like India.
Replies
throwaway27448 • today at 5:51 AM
> In 100 years the technology to build bridges improves so much that it is lot easier to build a new one
This hasn't even been true for 200 years lol
croes • today at 5:52 AM
Sometimes knowledge gets lost and newer doesn’t automatically mean better
➕ show 1 reply
Nobody is going to tear down old bridges and rebuild them at enormous costs just because technology changed. Some things can't or won't be redone and so it's worth it to build it to last and getting it right on the first try.