Allentown's all a twitter about the beams arriving for the 15th Street Bridge. Allentown Director of Public Works, Richard Young, appeared on local TV saying that the project is on schedule. He forgot to mention that it's a snail pace schedule, stranding south Allentown for years. He forgot to mention that the two Tilghman Street bridges, west of Allentown, were removed and replaced in a matter of months. He forgot to mention that more is done in a few weeks at the Arena, than has been done on the bridge project since it began. He forgot to mention that his department allowed the previous bridge to rust away from neglect. He forgot to mention that he didn't intercede with his counter point on the state level, also named Young, to postpone construction on the 24th/Oxford Street bridge. He forgot to mention...UPDATE: Although this post is critical of Allentown Public Works, the real blame lies with the Administration. Although Allentown's share of the project is only 5%, it occurs to me that the relaxed schedule seems to be built into a cut rate bid on the project. If Allentown's priorities were geared toward citizen convenience, instead of the mayor's Big Arena Razzle Dazzle, I'm sure that Young would have just as soon payed more for an accelerated schedule on the bridge.
And he forgot to add a left-turn lane for eastbound traffic on MLK at 15th St., leading to backups all the way to the Jehovah's Witness center.
ReplyDeleteAnd he forgot to mention how he plans to repair Schreber's Bridge
ReplyDelete@8:51, schreiber's bridge has already been repaired twice recently, once on each side of the northern approach. truth is it's impossible for a tractor trailer to make the 90 degree turn in either direction without hitting the walls. my hope is that the historic bridge survive until the 15st bridge is completed.
ReplyDeletemichael molovinsky said...
ReplyDelete@8:51, schreiber's bridge has already been repaired twice recently, once on each side of the northern approach. truth is it's impossible for a tractor trailer to make the 90 degree turn in either direction without hitting the walls. my hope is that the historic bridge survive until the 15st bridge is completed.
June 12, 2013 at 1:49 AM
MM,
I'll double-check but earlier this week thought the left side was broken. Sure could be wrong.
Can you imagine the 18-wheelers turning left. First they have to wait for all south traffic and then north traffic as well and then take up the entire roadway.
We will know pretty soon how it's going as LPE will have cars backed up to 15th Street if things get rough. Thank you for your reply.
@7:31, you're correct, it was smashed for the second time. i believe the city now knows it's a fool's errand to repair again until the 15th street bridge is rebuilt. unfortunately, i know from my campaign for the reading road bridge (walnut street), built in same year, 1828, that the administration has no appreciation of the history of those bridges.
ReplyDeleteMM -
ReplyDeleteIt would seem to me that a temporary three-way stop sign at Schreiber's (at least at rush hours) would go a long way toward preventing backups on the bridge.
It would also lessen the stress on the bridge from a long line of vehicles sitting on it and waiting to get out.
@9:04
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. Waaaaaaaay too complex for this crew.