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Virtual_Appearance t1_j15op29 wrote

Better check to make sure there isn't another PRT bus under the ribbon.

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Powdrtostman t1_j16881p wrote

I heard Wolf wants to make it a toll bridge.

−43

James19991 t1_j169aw8 wrote

I guess the Dept of Transportation can build something quickly if they feel like it

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wantabeana t1_j16m4tk wrote

Now that we all see how quickly things can be rebuilt, penndot has no excuse for not finishing 28

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just_an_ordinary_guy t1_j16spfq wrote

Replying to wantabeana (#1,002,562)

Eh, yes and no. This was built in an emergency because it's a critical link and was entirely unusable. Infrastructure is basically a "pick two" of fast/quality/cost. This bridge was way more expensive than it would've been if it was planned for.

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TheLittleParis t1_j16ydmu wrote

>PennDOT and its contractors built the new bridge in just 11 months, thanks to emergency declarations and procedures that allowed them to bypass a traditional, years-long timeline that includes preliminary design, final design, community engagement, permitting and sending the project out to bid.

Amazing how fast the government can move when it isn't weighed down by useless community meetings and glacial permitting processes. Imagine what the city accomplish if it approached other infrastructure projects in the same way.

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average_waffle t1_j179ju0 wrote

Proof that government can get stuff done when they actually want too

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blondiebell t1_j17e80w wrote

Replying to TheLittleParis (#1,003,586)

With big infrastructure projects its pretty darn important to have some checks in place before the plan is carried out. Especially a measure of community engagement because they should have a voice in something that could change their daily life. What is a bummer is that the checks in place currently are not very streamline and are always ALWAYS underfunded so they can take time to save for and then to continue. Regulations, procedure, and engagement aren't the problem, its funding and priority management.

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ididacannonball t1_j17pmjd wrote

I had a look at the site from Frick Park last week and it seemed pretty much done, so I'm not surprised that they did this today. It looks pretty good!

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ididacannonball t1_j17q0jg wrote

Replying to just_an_ordinary_guy (#1,003,227)

They also waived virtually all the permitting and pre-clearance requirements. The project was not even put to competitive bidding, it was just given to whoever someone in PennDOT thought could get it done ASAP. This was not normal in anyway.

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duranfan t1_j18gajf wrote

Replying to stadulevich (#1,002,942)

For the moment, yes. Apparently it will close again in a few months so that it can be completely finished. The 28 N side, though, is still all kinds of screwed up, and will be until at least August of 2023.

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ComprehensiveCat7515 t1_j18mipj wrote

Going to go ahead and say this is the biggest PR success for Build Back Better. Biden comes to the city the day the bridge collapses and can say it was rebuilt before the end of the calendar year.

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TheLittleParis t1_j18osfm wrote

Replying to blondiebell (#1,004,721)

Yeah, I get the reason for it in theory. It just makes me mad when I learn that the Art Commission tried to use community review to hold the construction up for four months just so it matched their personal tastes. Seems so out of touch with the needs of actual residents who just want to get back to their normal commutes as soon as possible.

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just_an_ordinary_guy t1_j18tt32 wrote

Replying to ididacannonball (#1,005,437)

Though I will say that the way they handled it is normal for an emergency. I work in the municipal world, and not doing a competitive bid process is normal for emergency work, in case anyone is wondering. However, it should go without saying, emergency work in and of itself is not normal.

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blondiebell t1_j18xr1z wrote

Replying to TheLittleParis (#1,007,770)

That particular committee, sure. They have been accused of over stepping their authority and being far too personal than objective.

Seems we otherwise agree :)

It is unfortunate that so much of our infrastructure is in dire need of repairs, because in a better world we'd be planning big projects far in advance so that we CAN take the time to see every angle and make as many voices on the matter heard. The aesthetic of a bridge or other big structure Should matter, so it's a shame we so often don't give ourselves time to consider it because we just need the work done done done.

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imadv8r2 t1_j19b3cd wrote

Replying to ComprehensiveCat7515 (#1,007,583)

Nope, 25 and clear that morning; partly cloudy later in the day. Light snow didn’t start til later in the week—Sunday.

Source: accuweather, weatherspark, timeanddate, etc.

Begs the question why was there a delay in the first place…

0

GargantuanWitch t1_j19fasz wrote

Replying to Powdrtostman (#1,001,442)

I heard that your average Yinzer will believe anything they're told, especially when it's some dumb shit that no governor in his last term will ever accomplish, because they don't understand anything that isn't a sandwich.

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asvictory t1_j19i183 wrote

Anyone know the actual time of opening on Friday? I’d like to get my old route to work back instead of fighting the a-hole drivers on Penn to Braddock

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enemy_of_your_enema OP t1_j19o9of wrote

Replying to wantabeana (#1,002,562)

From the, ahem, article:

“The time savings was a lot on the front end,” she said, when the agency
and the contractor designed a bridge with “the material that was
available.” She added that Fern Hollow has “a higher factor of safety,”
than it strictly needs; in order to keep the process moving as quickly
as possible, they designed and built with “some conservative engineering
guesses … so we wouldn't have to go back.”

The speed of Fern Hollow’s restoration can not — and will not — become
PennDOT’s new normal, Moon-Sirianni stressed. It was an emergency.

“There’s a lot of folks that work very, very quickly when something is
an emergency,” she said, reeling off as examples PennDOT’s central
office, PennDOT’s bridge specialist and the Federal Highway
Administration. “You can only have so many emergencies.”

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GargantuanWitch t1_j1aczmd wrote

Replying to Powdrtostman (#1,011,694)

"I repeated the last thing I read on Facebook and now that I've said it out loud someplace else, I realize how dumb I sound so I better make people think I was joking the whole time before they figure out I'm a corncob."

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Powdrtostman t1_j1bbcjg wrote

Replying to GargantuanWitch (#1,013,189)

What's funny is that you actually believe it was posted somewhere for someone to believe. I threw it out there as a throwaway joke knowing there would be people, such as yourself, that would be so pressed that you just had to comment. Can't smash that downvote button hard enough, can you?

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