How to kill badly needed progress

[Mik]

The Brent Spence I75 bridge over the Ohio at Cincinnati has been inadequate for decades. The new bridge system is essential to the area. Otherwise we will see a catastrophe in the future.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/put-people-over-pavement-lawsuit-demands-more-study-of-brent-spence-bridge-project/ar-AA1sr7NW

[Jolly]

I believe in protecting the environment, but this stuff has gone waaay past the silly stage.

I think government's primary job is to protect the country from enemies - both foreign and domestic -, to deliver the mail or provide some form of censorship free communication for its citizens and to use much of its revenues for infrastructure for the betterment of all.

We just had a study done down here. Here's all of our problems, which are not unlike many other states...

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/dotd-analysis-report-by-private-firm-lists-transportation-department-challenges/article_9434fe6e-f314-58b8-b187-5e69c3cc0223.html

[Jolly]

One where I think the last three Presidents have fallen short:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_69

This should be bearing completion, instead of where it's at.

[89th]

Good summary of the government's main jobs, @Jolly

@Mik that is crazy... so the project has already been in the planning stage for 20 years, it'll take 10 years to actually construct (10 years! I'm glad we have quality standards in the USA... buildings aren't just collapsing like they do in China, but holy crap it only took 13 months to build the Empire State Building, maybe it was faster then because people didn't have iPhones to distract them).

Anyway... a bit confused, but I skimmed the article. So an environmental assessment was done in 2012, then affirmed (no significant impact) in 2015, and 2018, and 2024... but they want a more extensive impact study done? I'm sorry... it's a road and a bridge. Just make sure runoff water is handled correctly and the impact won't be much more than what's already in place with the existing bridge.

[Mik]

I don't think the environment is the real issue. I think someone either wants more for their property or wants to be paid off in some way. The environmental argument doesn't hold water.

[89th]

I could see that. Environmental reports often are used to hinder efforts for other reasons. Just watch Breaking Bad!

[taiwan_girl]

@89th said in How to kill badly needed progress:

hat is crazy... so the project has already been in the planning stage for 20 years, it'll take 10 years to actually construct (10 years! I'm glad we have quality standards in the USA... buildings aren't just collapsing like they do in China, but holy crap it only took 13 months to build the Empire State Building,

And the Rome Colosseum was biult in 7 (or 9) years by hand and is still standing 2000 years later.