And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Back when building big projects didn't take decades and billions (bullet train, anyone?)
Years ago, read that they had to go 130+ feet deep for the supports' foundation. The state geologist descended to each bottom and said the bedrock was California Serpentine and would last for hundreds of years as a foundation.
One of the problems with doing anything like this bridge today is that there's a generation (or three) raised to believe that moving so much as one pebble is a mortal sin that's going to doom the entire ecosystem. So many layers of approval required that just filling out papers takes more time than building the entire Golden Gate.
I had to take a required biology class in my junior college days and we did a month of ecology. I learned it as being all about changes. Today it's focused on fear of change and never changing a thing.
Yup, the environmentalists, unions, consultants and politicians drive up the cost and time to completion of everything. Oh, I forgot to mention the attorneys. Anyone remember the Loma Prieta earthquake back in ‘89? It collapsed the I-880 and damaged the Bay Bridge. Deukmejian skipped the open bidding process, permitting and environmental studies and started rebuilding almost immediately.
Yup, it takes longer for the environmental impact assessments and all the NIMBY lawsuits to be dealt with than to build the actual bridge/airport/railway. Al_in_Ottawa
If we were to "build it now" the costs of the regulatory burden would be greater than the actual cost of the bridge..proof we need to eliminate ALL government and try again.
Took a riverboat tour in New Orleans in 86. The new bridge under construction had piers that went 350 feet below the bottom of the river! Thatas lots mud! Bubbarust
golden gate
ReplyDeleteYears ago, read that they had to go 130+ feet deep for the supports' foundation. The state geologist descended to each bottom and said the bedrock was California Serpentine and would last for hundreds of years as a foundation.
ReplyDeleteMore guts than me.
One of the problems with doing anything like this bridge today is that there's a generation (or three) raised to believe that moving so much as one pebble is a mortal sin that's going to doom the entire ecosystem. So many layers of approval required that just filling out papers takes more time than building the entire Golden Gate.
ReplyDeleteI had to take a required biology class in my junior college days and we did a month of ecology. I learned it as being all about changes. Today it's focused on fear of change and never changing a thing.
Yup, the environmentalists, unions, consultants and politicians drive up the cost and time to completion of everything. Oh, I forgot to mention the attorneys. Anyone remember the Loma Prieta earthquake back in ‘89? It collapsed the I-880 and damaged the Bay Bridge. Deukmejian skipped the open bidding process, permitting and environmental studies and started rebuilding almost immediately.
Delete" So many layers of approval required that just filling out papers takes more time than building the entire Golden Gate."
ReplyDeleteTell that to the homeowners in Palisades that are trying to rebuild.
Imagine if OSHA was a thing back then.....
ReplyDeleteBayouwulf
Yup, it takes longer for the environmental impact assessments and all the NIMBY lawsuits to be dealt with than to build the actual bridge/airport/railway.
ReplyDeleteAl_in_Ottawa
If we were to "build it now" the costs of the regulatory burden would be greater than the actual cost of the bridge..proof we need to eliminate ALL government and try again.
ReplyDeleteTook a riverboat tour in New Orleans in 86. The new bridge under construction
ReplyDeletehad piers that went 350 feet below the bottom of the river! Thatas lots mud!
Bubbarust