We aren't abusing Clay, we're abusing the ODOT, Clay's just taking it personally.
And yes, the I-44 project in Tulsa has a storm sewer drain under it, that road has been under construction for almost 4 years now.
We aren't abusing Clay, we're abusing the ODOT, Clay's just taking it personally.
And yes, the I-44 project in Tulsa has a storm sewer drain under it, that road has been under construction for almost 4 years now.
We don't live in "Chicago and NYC Norther NJ" on purpose. We compare our roads to those in contiguous states. You know, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas? Ours are noticeably worse than any of theirs. I've yet to hear a plausible explanation as to why.
Anybody else in OKC wonder why they just put in all those miles of brand new cable barrier on the Kilpatrack turnpike, only to dig it all right back out before the concrete even cured (couple of weeks?) to start on a widening project?
Anybody else in OKC wonder why they just put in all those miles of brand new cable barrier on the Kilpatrack turnpike, only to dig it all right back out before the concrete even cured (couple of weeks?) to start on a widening project?
They did the same thing on the Creek in Tulsa, gotta keep spending that money.
Wonder if I can get a windmill to mount on the top of my car...
Easy for you to say, since it doesn't affect you personally. Last I heard, Tuttle wasn't exactly bumper to bumper traffic. The problem isn't fixing the roads, it's fixing them correctly in a timely fashion, which Oklahoma DOES NOT DO!
Really! I remember when they resurfaced Hwy 169 between 21st St. and 51st St. Within 6 months, they went in and cut huge chunks of it out and patched it back, in what has to be one of the worst efforts I've ever seen on any road surface. Ever since it's been a buckboard express route. Whoever resurfaced 169 between Pine and 56th St. N. did a great job. Whoever has done EVERY other road resurface in Tulsa probably couldn't connect two pieces of chewing gum if they were both in their mouth at the same time! Oklahoma roads are a national joke. Yes, we're known nationwide for our terrible roads.
Add in the planning of a 3 year old with Lego's and it gets even worse. Who in their right mind designs cloverleafs where cars doing 65mph are supposed to exit at 25mph, in the same 180 yards as cars entering at 25mph needing to merge at 65? Seriously? WTF???
Does your mission statement also say anything about abject failure being a goal? We've had one of the mildest winters on record here in Tulsa, and yet our roads are in a condition that could only be described as bloody awful. It seems like every road is under construction simultaneously and everything that's left to drive on is so rough, you risk loosing your suspension every time you drive here. I've learned the bone jarring way where all the major potholes are on my daily drives. I look like Muhammad Ali in the ring, bobbing and weaving to miss as many as possible. Yet I still get to choose between frequent (and expensive) 4 wheel alignments, or accelerated tire wear and reduced fuel economy. Nice.
I really do feel for you as an ODOT employee. Your end product is one step above imports from 3rd world countries and your planning appears to come from Uzbekistan. The projects take so long to finish, the added stress to the detour routes all but assures they'll be a pulverized mess by the time the project is completed. Throw in substandard materials and you've got a surefire recipe for failure. So guess what we'll need? Another road rehabilitation project! It's a self sustaining cycle that so far as I can see, is only designed to perpetuate the projects themselves. Good roads doesn't seem to be a goal at all.
As far as I can tell, we've been patient for far too long. It's time for some major changes to be made in the way we do road business in OK. Striving is not enough. If ODOT isn't to blame, you have two choices. Accept the blame anyway, or get the facts out about why we have terrible roads in OK. A third option would be to actually fix the problem, but we're not holding out much hope on that front.
Pretty fair assessment. Just a year or so back they resurfaced from 244 south to the BA? and put the control joint dowels in. Before they were finished with both sides they were cutting out and patching sections on the side that was supposedly finished.
To be fair to ODOT it has to be difficult dealing with the clay soils that we have in OK, as well as the political appointee in charge of the system who usually knows nothing about construction. Thus the substandard engineering to cope with the clay problem and the substandard aggregate that ends up in the finished product (because of kickbacks, lack of oversite and awarding jobs to the lowest bidder--WalMart syndrome)
In Oregon (from whence I hail) they redid a road about 20 yrs ago and when we visited 3 yr ago it was just like it was new! Probably had another 30 yrs smooth life.
Difference between there and here? They start with at least a couple feet of pit run shale/gravel (fist sized +) followed by 1 1/2" minus and then the asphalt.
Each lift is min 4" lifts for a total of at least 2 lifts (I have seen 6" lifts) Also the problem with the bridges that I have seen is the rebar ends up way too close to the face of the concrete. The concrete wicks moisture to the rebar, which rusts, freezes during the winter and the swelling water causes the concrete to spawl. Another lack of oversight in the inspection phase.
I agree that they aren't fun to drive but you should be thankful they are that way. The arc in the spans are called camber which put simply means it has a preloaded stress/arc above plane. If there were to be a traffic jam and the bridges were backed up, the spans are engineered to handle the weight of all those cars. At that load rate the span should be almost flat with no discernable arc when fully loaded. If they started out with no/light load at no discernable arc, when capacity was reached it would result in a bow (arc below plane) which would certainly result in catastrophic failure.
Love the pic
Great idea! You can prob get a tax credit of 3 million!
Sweet! I insist on having something created\manufactured by Solyndra on the vehicle. I'd also like to utilize some green energy in the way of alternative fuels. Maybe like Nancy Pelosi's recycled Botox or something. I gotta go green, man. For the children.
