Infrastructure Disaster

The past week has been one to remember for disasters due to the crumbling state of the infrastructure of this country. The natural gas explosion and fire in San Bruno, CA and the wind and fires in Detroit are the two most recent major examples.

The San Bruno fires have been attributed to a 50 year old natural gas main, the Detroit fires to high winds and falling electrical lines. As an electrician working in the Detroit area, I am well acquainted with the poor condition of Detroit's electrical grid. That the neighborhood electrical lines would break during high winds is no great shock. The pole to pole lines beside my house are in terrible condition. The insulation on the wires is frayed or missing and the lines have numerous splices from previous breaks. Why broken lines are repaired time after time instead of being replaced I don't completely understand. The short term economics are one thing but how many splices can one line have and still maintain structural integrity? Any one who has driven on Michigan roads can ask a similar question. How many times can you patch a patch?

Any good engineer knows that new material is stronger than repaired. New wires can withstand wind storms much more easily than those with multiple splices. What we need from our utilities and governments is a commitment to replace an upgrade our roads, gas and electrical and water lines at a vastly accelerated rate. Infrastructure spending must increase at a substantial rate or our infrastructure will likely collapse around us before it can be replaced with better, more modern and longer lasting materials.

I am aware of the great costs of these endeavors but I for one am willing to pay a bit more to have a secure utility and transportation infrastructure. Are you?