From an engineering standpoint, this is a very very bad thing. You always want a backup in case WHEN something fails.
A perfect example from the Canadian Broadcasting Company:
Ontario's Nipigon River bridge fails, severing Trans-Canada Highway
'This is the one place in Canada where there is only one road, one bridge across the country'
A newly constructed bridge in northern Ontario has heaved apart, indefinitely closing the Trans-Canada highway — the only road connecting Eastern and Western Canada.
The Nipigon River Bridge has been closed for "an indefinite time due to mechanical issues," according to the Ontario Provincial Police. The bridge remains open to pedestrian traffic.
Steven Del Duca, minister of transportation for Ontario, said in a statement late Sunday the ministry "will do everything they can do to restore the bridge quickly, while also making sure that the safety of the traveling public remains of paramount importance."
The west side of the bridge has pulled away from the abutment connecting it to the river bank's edge, lifting up about 60 centimeters.
The only solution is to detour through the USA - no mention of who the contractor or engineering company was and I bet there is serious wailing and gnashing of teeth at both businesses.
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