Bridge falls into Mississippi River

[wtm442]

Originally Posted by Ron61

Well this mornings news said that all the bridges and overpasses in this state are going to be inspected.
Ron

Big deal. All bridges are inspected periodically. They are doing the same in MA right now.

Just because it has been inspected does not make it safer.

But when the inspection reports list problems that should be addressed and they are not (like the bridge that just collapsed) .... that's the BIG problem.

[Ron61]

Warren,

We have the worst main highways of any state according to one report that I read. No maintenance at all. Just inspections as they are cheaper and the politicians can then use the money for themselves. I think next time I have the Coupe running I am going to hunt a bridge.

Ron

[Sizzler]

Originally Posted by May, 2007

Governor Tim Pawlenty's veto of a bipartisan transportation bill will cause further deterioration to the state's transportation system and end up costing the state's taxpayers more in the long run.
"This veto shows a real lack of leadership on the part of the Governor," said Solberg. "He has just passed the buck for paying for badly needed road repairs to our kids and our grandkids."

The bill, which passed the Senate on Wednesday, would provide $7.7 billion of funding for the state's transportation system over the next 10 years, including $5.9 billion for roads, with $3.2 billion going to highways in Greater Minnesota. The bill also doubles the amount of money provided for rural transit.

In his veto message, the Governor said he vetoed the bill because it contained an increase to the gas tax, which would have broken a pledge he made three years ago to the partisan Minnesota Taxpayers League to secure the Republican nomination for Governor.

"This is a good indication of where his priorities lie," said Solberg. "He made a promise to a group of his supporters at the expense of the rest of the state."

Solberg also questions the Governor's choice of vetoing the gas tax, when he continues to raise property taxes, and has had no qualms about raising taxes on alcohol or rental cars.

"He certainly doesn't have any qualms about raising fees, either, like the $2,000-plus fee on nursing home residents," Solberg said. "His own transportation plan relies almost exclusively on borrowing, with the bills coming due long after he's left office. That approach will end up costing us more in the long run and limit what we can do in future years."

In Illinois we have the same situation: budget needs to include $1.2 Billion in state funding in order to qualify for over $6 Billion in matching federal funds, and it looks like our governor wants to pay off his voting bloc before worrying about mere citizens so we'll probably so "no thanks" to the federal $6 Billion.

This isn't a federal problem so much as a state issue.

[wtm442]

Just think of all the maintenance cost that are going to suck up state and federal dollars for the Big Dig tunnels in Boston.

Ron - next time I drive thru any one of those tunnels, I'll try to do a better job of creating some new cracks.

[hey,littlecobra]

omg! that tunnel freaks me out! I hate enclosed spaces like that...

all those brake lights, and the little chirp from you QUICKLY downshifting... geez i would have HATED that! no tunnel for me!!
We have a little tunnel down here at the Addison airport; Fred, you remember that one???
The whole Dallas group zipped thru it with a COP going in the opposite direction. yikes!
I took a photo while i was zooming thru.
it did come out blurry!

I will stay away from tunnels. They've got to be worse than bridges.
I can swim, anyway. A collapsed tunnel, or one on fire is probably the end....
k

[65LA]

It's unfortunate that a tragic event such as this bridge collapsing stirs people to question priorities and begin political conversations and finger pointing. Maybe it is appropriate, however, keep in mind the recovery process for the missing is still underway..Perhaps it's more appropriate to appreciate the breathe we take and cherish those we hold close in our hearts.

[4RE KLR]

Warren
I love the downshift.

I do not know what to say about the tunnel and the tragic loss of life. May God be with thier families.

[Ron61]

We only have one car tunnel that I am aware of and it is near Goleta, down near Santa Barbara, on the coast highway. Not very long and through mostly solid rock if I remember correctly.
Kristen, if you don't like tunnels then you would definitely not like riding BART under the San Francisco Bay. And especially when you are at the halfway point and the power fails. Lots of people get panicky until emergency lights come on and they do have a way to exit on foot via the maintenance tunnel in between the two main train tunnels..

Ron

[Wayne Maybury]

I have always felt that most overpasses in the US were in much better shape than those up here in Quebec. In addition to a virtual total lack of maintenance, we also pour down salt during the winter months. The salt enters the small cracks in the concrete and accelerates the rusting of the re-bars which then deteriorates the concrete more quickly. We have very high gas tax, most costly licence plates and drivers licences but much of this revenue goes into other areas, not the roads.

Two or three years ago, an overpass under construction just north of Montreal collapsed killing a few people. Last year a 40 year old overpass in the same area collapsed killing 5 people. The public inquiry into this latest collapse has uncovered poor design, poor construction, poor maintenance, poor engineering, etc. Of course, everyone involved from the construction company to the government engineers are pointing their fingers at "the other guys". As a tax payer, all I can do is read the reports and wonder how much this is going to cost.

As a result of this latest inquiry, a couple of hundred overpasses and bridges have been identified as needing more frequent inspections and a bunch have now been limited to much lower weight restrictions. The government is so worried that more are going to collapse that they have already demolished 2 more overpasses and have begun to study the demolishion of several more including an entire, heavily travelled interchange just west of down town Montreal. The road network up here is in terrible condition and getting worse every year.

Most major freeway construction in North America took place 40 to 45 years ago. Many of the overpasses and bridges are now in need of serious repair or replacement but it looks like the politicians hope that they can ignore the situation until they are out of office and collecting their big fat government pensions. Then it will be someone else's mess to clean up.

Wayne

[CoBro]

Funny how the Twins baseball team is breaking ground on a new stadium not far from that fallen bridge. The local legislature can't find money for infrastructure but there's plenty for a new sports stadium.
Here in Seattle, we have a billion dollars worth of new stadia for the Seahawks and the Mariners right along side the Alaska Way Viaduct. The viaduct is a decrepid double deck roadway that scored a 20 on that bridge safety index.
Our baseball stadium has a retractable roof which cost an additional fortune that they didn't tell us about, and the Seahawks stadium was voted down by the taxpayers but Paul Allen shoehorned it through the legislature with some hotel tax BS.
I love sports, but its irresponsible to put entertainment before public safety.

[4RE KLR]

I could not agree with you more.

The Dallas Cowboys are getting a new stadium with some 600 million of it on the tax payers load. I heard the bill is over $1 billion now.

I don't care who you, are or what you say, but that is just plain fecking stupid!

[Ron61]

From this mornings Redding paper. The Pit River Bridge and another one over Lake Shasta are far below safety standards but there is no need for fear as they are safe. They have been working on the Pit River bridge for over a year now trying to get it safe and said it will take at least another year. Also mentioned quite prominently was the fact that due to the Minnesota Bridge collapse, gas prices will take a major jump as states have to have money to repair their aging and dangerous infrastructure. All the gas tax we have paid over the years has been diverted from road maintenance into the politicians pockets. Dam crooked politicians anyway. And as stated above, there seems to be no end for money to build big stadiums and other pet projects. I think Arnold is trying to straighten out some of our mess, but one person can't undo in a year of so what 20 others have screwed up over the past 30 years .

Ron

[wtm442]

Ron
Blame it all on the Mt Shasta Goddess!

[Ron61]

Warren,

You have just cursed yourself. The Mt. Shasta Goddess doesn't like to be blamed for things she didn't do. Enjoy todays ride. It may be your last nice weather for a while.

Ron