[Speed Gibson,
Monday August 20, 2007 at 11:07pm]
Listening to Engineers
There's nothing profound in this post. What has happened after the collapse of the St. Anthony bridge was entirely predictable, but it bears repeating.
Just after came calls that we weren't listening to the engineers. We weren't reading their inspection reports. Why, this bridge was structurally deficient, and had been for some time. We need people who really know what they're doing running MnDot, not a part time elected official.
Now, of course, the new bridge is ground zero for politicians trying to add on unnecessary, unwise, and even unrelated items to the cost of reconstruction. It's almost amusing to see the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, the Metropolitan Council, and the State Legislature elbowing each other for control of at least of portion of the project. Personally, I hope the bickering continues, to show our weak Governor that no good can possibly come from a Special Session. They'll be back in session soon enough.
So who's listening to the engineers now? Nobody. As U.S. Senator Joe Biden might say, these decisions are way above their pay grade.
Just after came calls that we weren't listening to the engineers. We weren't reading their inspection reports. Why, this bridge was structurally deficient, and had been for some time. We need people who really know what they're doing running MnDot, not a part time elected official.
Now, of course, the new bridge is ground zero for politicians trying to add on unnecessary, unwise, and even unrelated items to the cost of reconstruction. It's almost amusing to see the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, the Metropolitan Council, and the State Legislature elbowing each other for control of at least of portion of the project. Personally, I hope the bickering continues, to show our weak Governor that no good can possibly come from a Special Session. They'll be back in session soon enough.
So who's listening to the engineers now? Nobody. As U.S. Senator Joe Biden might say, these decisions are way above their pay grade.