Thursday, September 02, 2010

Another Bridge Problem in Milwaukee

WTF?

A Marquette Interchange freeway ramp used by 15,000 motorists per day was shut down Thursday afternoon and will remain closed indefinitely because cracks have formed in a vertical support pier.

The ramp carries traffic from W. Wisconsin Ave., at N. 11th St., to I-43 southbound.

State Transportation Secretary Frank Busalacchi said the cracks were discovered during a scheduled inspection on Monday and further investigation revealed that the 40-foot concrete support was designed improperly and is inadequate to support the weight that rests on it, including steel girders and the roadway.

Busalacchi said the design firm HNTB Corporation has accepted responsibility for the error and the repair. What will be done to fix or replace the vertical pier has not been determined, the secretary said. Also unknown is how long it will take to fix the problem.

(9) Comments
Posted by Owen at 2121 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin + Technology

  1. A lot of the Marquette was built in the 2005-2008 period.

    This was boom-time in America for construction.  Due to all the work available (commercial and residential) we had drawn into the industry a number of less than skilled players to fill demand, whether that was architects, contractors or construction workers.

    We will see more of this in the years ahead from construction of this vintage.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 02, 2010 at 2200 hrs


  2. Oh,the problem should be solved,it is a big damage.

    Posted by juicy couture outlet online on September 02, 2010 at 2242 hrs


  3. While we wish everything would always work perfectly, it doesn’t.  At least this was caught before some major catastrophe and hopefully gets fixed correctly.

    As we have seen recently from recent events, just because something gets noticed as broken doesn’t mean our local government will fix it until someone dies.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 02, 2010 at 2302 hrs


  4. Good point, Steve.  This AM our local paper (Daily News West Bend) has an article about the recently renovated county-owned nursing home suffering roof damage in a recent storm.  The roof is 1 year old, total loss due to storm damage, and will cost $300,000 to replace.

    Too soon to assume blame, but the insurance company, adhesive manufacturer, and installation contractor will be meeting to sort it out.  It was a severe storm, but yet you have to wonder why a brand new roof did not survive it.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 03, 2010 at 0703 hrs


  5. Is it really surprising? Used to be where workmanship was synonymous with “Quality”, now it’s not even a consideration. Used to be even the most modest homes were built to withstand the worse mother nature could dish out, now they’re thrown together with particle board and glue and fall apart in a stiff wind. The freeway system that was laid out in the 50’s carried us into the 21st century, and now the “improvements” are crumbling in less than three years time. We are paying first class wages for mediocre work, and it’s become the rule, not the exception.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 03, 2010 at 1007 hrs


  6. The winds that hit West bend were very strong and spotty, in the southpark they ripped HVAC roof units right off the steel mounts and moved them 25 feet, but the buildings right next door didnt get affected in the least.

    The state is broken into several geographical zones, every zone has a particular wind zone that the roof sytem (commercial buildings) should comply with, I dont know if any are rated for a storm like this.

    In regards to quality 15-20 years ago you could send out a crew with a plan (blueprint) and every dimension and information required to build they had right in front of them.
    The plans now are 75% larger, every subcontractor submits additional shop drawings to detail out there own work, we move and read large files (auto cad) to speed the process, photos and cams on site give imediate info to someone in an office 2000 miles away.Every plan is also reveiwed by state and local inspectors, but yet crews on site stand in circles scratching heads for lack of information.

    With all the new tools and technology we have the process has just become more clouded, more difficult, more regulated, not efficent in any way. Give me an old school architect anyday who will sketch out an issue in the dust on the hood of a pickup.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 03, 2010 at 1159 hrs


  7. Manufacturers and Industrial Supply Companies often refer to MRO as opposed to Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM). OEM includes any activity related to the direct manufacture of goods, where MRO refers to any maintenance and repair activity to keep a manufacturing plant running.

    Posted by Viking service on September 24, 2010 at 0115 hrs


  8. It was a severe storm, but yet you have to wonder why a brand new roof did not survive it.

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    Posted by coach outlet stores on September 24, 2010 at 0210 hrs


  9. At least this was caught before some major catastrophe and hopefully gets fixed correctly.


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    Posted by coach outlet stores on September 24, 2010 at 0215 hrs


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