the slow death of the viaduct

[ehanes7612]

for those who dont live in seattle, we have this double decker one or two mile long stretch of highway hugging our portline...anyway, its in the second phase of being demolished with the demolition of the top part. the state is building a tunnel to eventually replace but until then we will have a 4 lane single level highway

good riddance!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=JWXwd0tgBJY

 

[NYEric]

road construction is a tricky thing. budgetary constraints almost always prevent authorities to construct the proper roads they need to build.

 

[TyroneGenade]

This tends to be because they award the contract to the lowest bidder who invariably proves to have under budgeted. If Governments simply awarded the contract to the most reputable firm regardless they would getter much better mileage with public money.

A few weeks ago the main road to my home was "repaired". The repairs have come undone leaving 1 foot rips in the tarmac. Where once there was 1 foot diameter pot hole there is now a string 1.5 m long 1 foot wide rips in the tarmac. This along several stretches of the road.

 

[luvsorchids]

road construction is a tricky thing. budgetary constraints almost always prevent authorities to construct the proper roads they need to build.

Not to mention the clueless politicians with their own agendas and the inevitable NIMBY's that cause endless delays .

Susan

 

[Yoyo_Jo]

We went on that thing about 10 years ago on our motorcycles. Scared the crap out of me - seemed so weird to be on a freeway way up in the air...

Cool video, those munching machines look like t-rexes...

 

[ehanes7612]

road construction is a tricky thing. budgetary constraints almost always prevent authorities to construct the proper roads they need to build.

of course....and this project was fought tooth and nail but the governor won out becuase she put forth the only practical reason that could maintain a working highwway while the new highway was being built ..build a tunnel so the viaduct could still remain...seattle is geographically constrained and really the only place to build while maintaining traffic flow was below the ground..kind of a no brainer..the way i saw it

 

[ehanes7612]

We went on that thing about 10 years ago on our motorcycles. Scared the crap out of me - seemed so weird to be on a freeway way up in the air...

Cool video, those munching machines look like t-rexes...

its beautiful scenery for the driver though..but its such an eyesore ...hopefully we will adopt a plan that greens our port more

 

[cnycharles]

do the operators of the crunching machines actually get paid? it looks like too much fun!

 

[ehanes7612]

why viaduct is being replaced

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hos_uIKwC-c&NR=1

 

[SlipperFan]

Those cranes look like prehistoric dinosaurs!

Thanks for the links, Ed. I don't think I want to live on the west coast....

 

[Kevin]

How is a tunnel safer? Couldn't it get flooded or crushed in an earthquake?

Thanks for that link! Those crushing machines are cool!

 

[ehanes7612]

Those cranes look like prehistoric dinosaurs!

Thanks for the links, Ed. I don't think I want to live on the west coast....

grew up in VA and chicago ....but when i came to the northwest i have never wanted to leave...the threat of earthquakes doesnt even compare to the problems i have with the mood swings in weather on the east coast /midwest

 

[ehanes7612]

How is a tunnel safer? Couldn't it get flooded or crushed in an earthquake?

Thanks for that link! Those crushing machines are cool!

i think it may have something to do with a tunnel (double arch) being able to dissipate the energy of an earthquake more effectively than columns that rise vertically out of landfill ground...the tunnel ( i believe) is through bedrock (hopefully)..and there is a tunnel from san fran to oakland that stood up better to the 1989 earthquake that toppled the viaduct they had

 

[SlipperFan]

grew up in VA and chicago ....but when i came to the northwest i have never wanted to leave...the threat of earthquakes doesnt even compare to the problems i have with the mood swings in weather on the east coast /midwest

True -- espectially when it swings to the cold end!