this post was submitted on 28 Feb 2026
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Mildly Interesting

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Most bridges here do, and often when one needs to be demolished and rebuilt, the military blows it up just for practice.

Edit: Source for the sceptics

The deep demolition, which became a central element in Finnish post-war demolition tactics, and especially the development of readiness to counter surprise attacks that emerged as a threat scenario in the 1960s, received significant support immediately after the wars. The decision concerning structural demolition preparations for bridges was made on January 15, 1946. These preparations meant building charge wells, charge chambers, charge pipes, and charge hooks. Authorities responsible for constructing bridges were required to include the aforementioned structures in their plans, which significantly improved the readiness to destroy the bridges.

If it was not possible to place the charge space inside the abutment or pier, charge hooks could be embedded in the supports during the casting phase, to which the charges could then be attached.

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[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 20 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Isn't that a swiss thing as well?

[–] FundMECFS@piefed.zip 11 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Yeah cold war logic was paranoid. Nuclear bunkers in essentially every building built during the cold war, highway segements were built with fighter jet landing capabilities. And yeah I believe many bridges have explosive “capabilities”.

[–] snooggums@piefed.world 18 points 6 days ago (6 children)

I call that pragmatic, not paranoid.

[–] RobotToaster@mander.xyz 2 points 6 days ago

Sometimes paranoia is pragmatic

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[–] Frostbeard@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago

Norway as well

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 19 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

We still have furrows with ca. 1 meter cement blocks all over the place in Switzerland. They are usually full of shrubs and valuable ecological niches. Also a great defence against Panzers.

[–] ChickenLadyLovesLife@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I thought you had exploding roads.

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)
[–] ChickenLadyLovesLife@lemmy.world 5 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I've read it described as "bridges, tunnels, roads and airstrips". It makes sense to diversify.

[–] starlinguk@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I live near the Swiss border and always wonder if I could make it across before they blow everything up.

[–] ChickenLadyLovesLife@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Which direction you goin'?

[–] starlinguk@lemmy.world 0 points 3 days ago (1 children)

You put Basel in the ratatouille?!?!

[–] hOrni@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago

I'm pretty sure that all bridges in Poland are designed to be easily blown up.

[–] HowAbt2day@futurology.today 3 points 6 days ago

Ah, I think it’s for hanging Christmas lights.

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