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THE MAIN STREET bridge in Ohio’s capital might appear to be decked out for Halloween, but officials say the extensive webs spotted by motorists at night are real.
The Columbus Dispatch reports the $60 million bridge connecting downtown Columbus and Franklinton is infested with thousands of web-spinning spiders of different varieties.
Ohio State University professor David Shetlar specialises in urban landscape entomology and estimates the bridge has 5,000 to 10,000 spiders.
The spiders are from a number of different species including an “arabesque orb-weaver, which is known for its graceful weaving.
“Another is something out of an arachnophobe’s nightmare — it’s called a long-jawed orb weaver,” according to the Columbus Dispatch.
Ohio Division of Wildlife naturalist Jim McCormac says the sheer number of spiders is evidence of good health for the Scioto River underneath
A $35.5 million project narrowed the river for the creation of a 33-acre park with 800 trees and 75,000 plants.
McCormac says that allows for more insects in the area, and the spiders followed their food.
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Imagine if they never existed, and Dublin City Council applied for planning to build them now, there would be people on the streets complaining that they will destroy the Dublin skyline! I guess people just don’t like change!
They have a history. They deserve their place. Seeing them towers when you fly back into Dublin is a good feeling. They’re a beacon for home. The cynics want them destroyed.
If they were building them nowadays the protesters would be out calling them a blot on the landscape.
Just because the pig-ugly things happen to be old some people decide that they are pretty.
Yay. Like it or lump it they are a much recognised part of the Dublin skyline. Sure they aren’t the prettiest things but it seems it’ll be a long time before we move away from the low rise bland – o – boxes we currently build.
This is the problem in this country. We will fight to save chimneys and to have tall buildings blocking out the sun but when it comes to the beautiful environment all around us we fail to see the true gift that we have
Poolbeg “towers”? They’re chimneys.. And they’re an eyesore. We should get rid of them and build a 300 ft statue similar to the one guarding Braavos harbour in Game of Thrones. Perhaps of a hurler brandishing a hurley or simply Roy Keane with his arms folded looking miffed.
Yes, now that would be money well spent.
I’m not from Dublin so I have no idea what the attraction is but anyone visiting the city they are a disgusting eyesore. It seems to be a Dublin trait tho, why else would Liberty Hall, the Heineken building and the rest of those monstrosities be standing. I was down beside Dublin Castle last night, seriously what other capital city would allow such a modern eyesore to be built at its gate beside City Hall.
Liberty Hall just needs a decent face lift. Solved
Looks to me like they ruin every one of those pictures. Far more beautiful bay without them.
They are a quintessential part of Dublin. They are our twin towers. There isn’t a more beautiful sight than seeing those chimneys as you come back home to land at Dublin airport.
Dublin bay itself is pretty impressive when landing as is howth
Not those towers
Yeah I am starting the paint fund next week if all 1.2 million dubliners and dublin commuters give a euro each we should have enough to get the scaffolding out and a nice bit of paint to freshen them up a bit.
You’d be doing well to get the scaffold built for 1.2 million. I’d imagine they’ll be painted by rope access though.
Just two decaying old industrial chimneys. Do we have to keep everything that’s old?
I don’t know of any other city which wants to hang onto eyesores like this – of no historical (or other) significance.
Badly stuck for scenery in Dublin if two chimney towers are all the rage.
Why can’t we have buildings that tall?
Everyone saying that the towers area eye sore cope on they have mean there more the 30 years and anyway what about that monstrosity on O’Connell street but that represents what Dublin has become a massive hypodermic needle
Hideous things… Tear them down. :)
I’d love to climb them, I wonder if they would let me?
I can assure you they won’t!! I’ve worked in the power station and every time I’m there I think about climbing them. The view would be incredible. Unfortunately the ladders only start about 20 metres off the ground to stop people climbing them. Hopefully the company I work for gets the painting contract!!
I work for ESB networks and have a 20 meter hoist that will get us up to the ladders I’ll meet you there in the morning bring your camera.
Sound. I’ll get started on a method statement …. ya know, just in case.
Well taken photos, but they’re just two big ugly industrial looking chimneys. I’m not a Dub though so maybe I wouldn’t understand.
I’m a Dub and I don’t really get it.
Two very decent chimneys. Im not a chimney man but for those chimney lover’s out there may I suggest any industrial Russian city, Germanys Ruhr, or closer to home middelsboro in north east england for a far larger selection of Industrial chimneys. Or for those on a budget a trip to lanesboro in county longford where an almost identical Chimney treat awaits.
Wind Turbines would suit that site.
(Queue the luddites who love the the long dead past.)
Wind turbines don’t suit any area. I’m saying that because I’m a Luddite, quite the opposite. They’re massively inefficient. I’d rather the existing power station turned nuclear.
James Shelley’s pic is great.
God, those chimneys are ugly. I remember when they built the second.
From memory the I original plan was for 4 of them!
Worked down there years ago … Some sight when your standing beside them one is a foot taller that other 680ft v 681 one looks much bigger looking up as it is thicker… Originally the red and white stripes were painted by travelling up inside the towers in a lift during construction and out over the top in harness (allegedly )!!!! I hear insurance is a big problem re the re painting etc either way some sight
I’m not from Dublin so I suppose I must tread carefully as it doesn’t affect me directly but I would hate to have to look at these things every day. I can’t understand people’s affection for them. Personally, I’d knock them and never look back.
have your say