July the 7th, 2025 – the final chapter
July the 7th is the planned date for the beginning of the final destruction of the remains of that great and mighty bridge that once spanned the Patapsco River here in Baltimore. This demolition of the Key Bridge is to begin (in the state highway administration’s words) “on or about” July the 7th, 2025. And there is that date again – July the 7th. I’m not into numerology but it really seems that the number seven is featuring prominently in this case. The bridge opened in 1977 and what’s left of it is to be destroyed starting on the 7th. That date is important to me because something life changing happened to me on that very date in 1987. I made a few entries about it under the topic of “flesh and blood monsters” a while back. Even if the demolition doesn’t actually begin on the 7th (as they did also say “weather permitting”) it’s just the idea that they chose that particular date.
It might get rather creepy when they start deconstructing the two main piers, as of course it was one of those that “caught” the Key Bridge jumper when he made his fateful leap that cold December day. Blood was spilled upon that part of the metal monster, and while any trace of it has long since vanished, the memory remains. The ship mostly destroyed the west pier, but the east one is intact. I am thinking that might be the one that received the falling body that terrible day. It still stands as a grisly reminder there in the middle of the river. And no doubt the remains of the bridge are also a reminder of all of the lives lost there, including the construction workers who would be the final fatalities associated with it. And as for that repetitive number, the pier that the ship destroyed was designated as pier number 17…. “Believe it, or Not!” No Ripley’s Believe it or Not here, just some very odd coincidences.