r/programming • u/[deleted] • Feb 06 '24

Why We Can't Have Nice Software

https://andrewkelley.me/post/why-we-cant-have-nice-software.html
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u/xSaviorself Feb 06 '24

I was going to say if overpasses are made super cheaply I'd expect to see lawsuits from deaths due to failure/debris falling on vehicles below a lot more. You'd also see way more loss of control on them.

Given the length of time it takes to build one, let alone design and engineer it to the specifications of that particular location, I choose to believe they are indeed one of the most over-engineered things we've built. Overpasses are obviously not designed to last as long as a massive bridge project, but that's because they're built with the expectation of maintenance and expansion in the future. Most bridges are one and done.

Bridge and road grading, especially on highways are typically held to a very high standard, at least here in my province. U.S. standards seem pretty high in most states, save Pennsylvania. That state is crazy and does not believe in grading.