Mequon Clog: The Blog of the Clog!

Hi,
This is looks like dream to make a bridge on lake. If this is possible then it really amazing work. Thanks for sharing this post.

You write very well.

The truck company was found (and not with a good history):

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=686032

I completely agree -- thank you for the posting.

Link to JS Online Article about Dr. Chintamaneni

Reply to Rusty from original poster
Rusty Must need a course in remedial reading since he fails to comprehend my posting of the events in September. To recount, there were no barrels, cones, tape or anything to indicate the path to Parkview Dr was closed. I had been waiting in the meridian of the intersection for over three minutes because of the continuos traffic going west. When a car did stop to let me go through, all I could see in my headlights was white colored concrete between me and the black top of Parkview Dr. After going into the concrete and getting out of the car I could see the white cement was in arcs on the surface most likely meant to soak up the excess water and speed the surface solidification. It was not dust.

The workmen that were preparing the next pore at the approach to the bridge said that the concrete was pored less than 10 minutes ago and I still had time to flush it off in a car wash. To bad none were open by the time they pulled me out. Obviously they had forgotten to immediately put up any barricade, barrels or cones in the meridian to indicate were to go. There wasn't a single barrel, cone or barricade in the entire width of the meridian passage to Parkview Dr. and I had been waiting there long enough to see them if they had existed.

Rusty's statement regarding lack of proper rebars, "That's a design issue. Don't they teach that to engineers anymore?" I can't imagine the specs don't call for adequate rebars. After my time in the military before and during Vietnam, I have been involved in NRC approved upgrades for nuclear power plants in the US and Canada. Specifically the calculation of the stresses in the containment buildings around the reactors and the piping for cooling so that they can withstand a Richtor-Scale 5 vibration caused by an earthquake, explosion or impact from a missile or plane. Most likely I have been doing calculations on concrete stress longer than Rusty has been alive.

Although we disagree on this blog alot, I think one thing everyone here can agree on is that we need to keep this entire family in our thoughts and prayers.

It is a shame to lose a wonderful person who has given so much to a community. A doctor is someone who preserves life and extends the quality of life.

"from a worker"

The Mayor echoed your time estimate today. Hmmm

Mike, your right, it shouldn't be a ticket, but large fines and reductions in the project payments.

Regarding the sprinkled cement comment, take note of what is obviously frustrated sarcasm. Like your statement that the cement company wants people to drive through their work. Then again, they get paid more if this happens. Something to think about.

I heard, from a worker, it will be done some time around Nov 21st.

"For not posting officers on Mequon Road and Port at night time to protect workers"
-You want to pay the overtime bill for the officers to stand and do nothing, the companies have flag people to direct traffic, its not a police matter. The city doesnt have enough police to waste personal like that. Their third shift only has 3 cops for 50 sq miles.

"Why aren't the police ticketing the company for this one?!!!"
-What ticket should be issued? I dont think there's any ticket like that?

"They had also sprinkled dry cement on the fresh surface that made the dark concrete look white and dry. I think this was meant as part of the trap."
-Do you know how dumb that sounds? It could have been dust that settled on top, it could have been the top layer drying. Because the cement company wants people to drive throught their work.

Rusty, I'm not sure if you are representing the company or the DOT here, but this response is obviously toting some company-like line. This project does not post "open paths". Only recently did I finally see an arrow sign for moving traffic from one lane to the next -- on a road that appears to change driving lanes lately for what seems to be the fun of watching the confusion.

Your perspective is that the company is 100% right and that they have made absolutely no mistakes. A 3+ mile project isn't going to make even one mistake? If the answer is yes that is possible, then it is obvious that there can be even more than one. And there are plenty. Covering for these mistakes by calling the drivers ignorant and stupid doesn't fly.

The issue here was not inattentiveness but lack of markings. Period.

So you turned left, and intended to cross a closed lane. Were there cones indicating that there was an open path, or did you just drive through a gap in the barrels?

Seems to me there are a lot of people making illegal turns across closed lanes in places that they shouldn't be. Just because the gap between barrels is large enough to fit a car through doesn't me it's a legal move.

Most of the time you might get away with this move. You won't hit anything, and you won't get caught and given a ticket. But just because you do it so often with no consequences, doesn't mean that you get to blame someone else when fate finally catches up to you.

The question becomes are you just not paying attention, or are you just ignorant of how you're supposed to react to the construction zone? Like I said, just because you can fit between the barrels doesn't mean it's a legal move.

If an open path across a closed lane at an intersection or driveway isn't explicitly marked as being open, the rule is that it's closed. And somehow I doubt that they marked an open crossing at the place you decided to cross the closed lane. (And yes, you should have know it was closed. If it wasn't closed, there would have been traffic using the lane.

As for the use of rebar, that's not a workmanship issue. That's a design issue. Don't they teach that to engineers anymore?

Through inaction, the city is complicit in this matter. For not ensuring the service and protection of the Mequon community, the city is complicit. For not posting officers on Mequon Road and Port at night time to protect workers and Mequon citizens, the police, and thus the City have made a very clear statement to the voting and tax paying public.

Yes they have fixed the markings now, and as much as I would have elected to make fun of the concrete surfing gang, they have full reason to be angry. Hear me out.

As I drove by the scene at most 30 minutes before the "accident", it's very easy to have done. Picture this. You are turning off the freeway onto westbound Mequon rd and there barrels down the middle of the two westbound lanes, fine. The problem is that the tape that was supposed to be tied from the POLE on the north side of the road to the BARREL in the MIDDLE of the road (that would have effectively crossed the wet concrete lane – preventing access), had torn off the pole to the north and was BLOWING SOUTH (almost horizontally) ACROSS THE LANE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OPEN.

It wasn't until two nights later that they installed a "Road Closed" sawhorse like barricade – effectively admitting the flimsy tape was insufficient. So while it may be clear now, it was far from clear on that evening.

Lastly, while cell-phone drivers and simultaneous latte drinkers are everywhere (and more so in soccer mom land), and I despise them more than any, those with incomplete information should apologize. These drivers should be seeking restitution form the construction company. Anyone who feels otherwise simply does not understand the case.

Last night, 11/8/07, I returned back to Mequon at around 10pm. I took exit 85 Northbound and got off the ramp. As I am turning left, I can see ahead bright construction worklights working on Mequon Road/Port Washington. Now for those who travel here, the most recent change for those crossing Mequon Road and Port to go West on Mequon Road have two choices: a LEFT TURN ONLY lane and the right hand side lane for going straight and making a right.

So following the signs and markings, I go to the right hand lane to go straight. The problem is the workers on Port and Mequon road have blocked off my lane in the middle of Port rd, and now I have to move in to the LEFT TURN LANE to go straight ahead.

The cars in the LEFT TURN ONLY lane realise that cars going straight will COLLIDE with their cars so they start moving over.

This debacle gets going with the green light and we have two lanes of traffic trying to work in one tight lane.

There were three workers, two standing around, no signage, guidance or clue as to what to do.

These are city streets that must be governed by some directives for health and safety.

Cars having no clear routes are going to cause accidents that could injure those working and those on the road.

Does anyone care? What does OSHA say?

What would be great is if the construction company would spend less time trying to defuse the avalanche of valid complaints, and devote a little bit of time to the Taxpayers paying for this project, and inform them when this project might be over.

5 yrs?? According the JS Online article, it was originally budgeted 9 yrs ago in 1998! I wonder if this new project takes into consideration the existing work or will that be torn up anew?! Most importantly, will the emergency vehicles to the newly expanded St Mary's Hospital be impacted?

Also, a general question, what difference does it make in the long run as to who owns the road between the city or county? As long as the WI DOT doesn't own it! If they did, then that could have been done at the same time as Mequon Rd! Great.

It needs to be wider, why not get it done. They have been trying to budget it for the past 5 years. Its about time.

Mike

I appreciate your positive perspective on the people doing the construction, but you are obviously not being realistic.

1) of course the Mequon residents are the ones complaining - this is not of a concern to the residents of West Allis or Brookfield!!

2) We have all driven by road construction projects all over the state - and there are many ongoing projects we are all aware of of - this project has clearly failed to meet many basic safetry issues, and is performing very poorly in executing the work in a timely fashion. This is not meant to be mean or condescending - it is just frustrating for everyone.

3)I and many others have been very patient and respectful and appreciative of the workers, but someone in the planning and directing is just not doing their job.

Talk to the store owners, the residents, the people at the gas stations or your local church - we all either witnessed or experienced confusing and dangerous situations.

4) There is no need to get personal with and nasty in describing hundreds of people you never met "whiney, selfish attitude you and others in Mequon have" especially when they are the ones paying the taxes and footing the bill!"

Mr. Murphy,

My biggest complaint is that you have had the entire road, including major intersections at Port Rd and GB Road, and none of it is complete. It is OK to rip it up in stages but fix it complete as you go along. It makes no sense to have the entire road ripped up and inconvenience all who travel it.