It was always a sinister structure
When I drove across the bridge two years ago, I was somehow able to force that dark imagery out of my mind. I was even able to briefly enjoy the scenery and the warm sunny afternoon as I made the transit across and back. But then, in March of this year came the terrible event that brought all of that – the nightmare drive, the fatal plunge from the bridge – back to the forefront of my mind. Seeing that bloodstained monster of my past being unceremoniously slain in the dead of night by a drifting cargo ship stirred up very strong memories and emotions. And then knowing that six men were sucked down in the wreckage and drowned in the frigid river. More lives had been claimed in the proximity of this bridge. Watching that happen in real time was shocking and horrifying as the once mighty Key Bridge fell like a house of cards.
As said, for me the Key Bridge was always a sinister structure, first a symbol of fear and then of blood, misery and death. But of course that is only my own personal take – and likely that of others knowing people who chose to forfeit their lives from the height of that great span. Yet for most people, the Key Bridge was just a shortcut across the Patapsco River. A simple, useful and utilitarian purpose for which it was built. For others, it was a beautiful example of late 20th century truss bridge engineering and design. A gateway of sorts into Baltimore’s harbor and an iconic landmark that defined the area. But they were not shown the dark side of that monumental and impressive structure, as was I. So many things and places do have a dark side, a past that remains mostly hidden away from or unknown by the average person.
For instance, the surviving contemporary “relative” of the Key Bridge, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, had no such negative connotations from my point of view. Its dark aura was never revealed to me, and was always hidden away behind the bright light of day. The Bay Bridge is an impressive and welcoming sight, its massive towers rising above the blue waters of the bay. It is the gateway to a summer vacation at Ocean City. Warm weather, sunny skies (hopefully) and the beach await. But like so many large and majestic bridges, the Bay Bridge has also been tainted by construction deaths, fatal road accidents and of course the many unhappy souls who chose its heights to end their lives. And then there are those who have serious issues with crossing bridges, and cringe in terror and panic at the sight of it. So much so that there exist driving services that will take the wheel and shepherd those too afraid to make the drive across the bridge. But from the beginning, I had no personal association with and was blissfully unaware of most of those tragedies and terrors. It is said that what you do not know will not hurt you. Perhaps this is true when it comes to such places and things, where being ignorant of a dark, sordid past is for the best.