Bridge collapse demolition to start today

Me no fry said :

Trunking symbols said :

There’s another GDE bridge I’ve been worried about ever since it opened – the one over Belconnen Way. There’s an awful long distance between the pylons as it crosses Belconnen Way, maybe too long a distance. I sure hope it is structually sound because from my uninformed and pedestrian standpoint it looks like it could fall down at any minute.

Funny you should say that. For some reason I can’t put my finger on, (not to sound wise – or nervous – after the event, but…) I have always felt a bit uneasy about that particular bridge.

Too long a distance between pylons……haven’t seen many larges bridges in your lifetime have you?

Trunking symbols said :

There’s another GDE bridge I’ve been worried about ever since it opened – the one over Belconnen Way. There’s an awful long distance between the pylons as it crosses Belconnen Way, maybe too long a distance. I sure hope it is structually sound because from my uninformed and pedestrian standpoint it looks like it could fall down at any minute.

Funny you should say that. For some reason I can’t put my finger on, (not to sound wise – or nervous – after the event, but…) I have always felt a bit uneasy about that particular bridge.

niceplacetolive said :

BTW access to Ginninderra drive is not a suitable alternative for me.

So, if its not suitable, what do you do, what is your alternative? Do you just sit at the bridge waiting for them to re-open it? What would you do if there was an accident in the same place, would you have a whinge that the road shouldnt be closed because it inconveniences you for 20 seconds while emergency services do their job?

Its not like a detour through Mitchell/Kaleen is like being sent out via Collector, or via the city, its a minor inconvenience, not much bigger than the inconvenience experienced before and during the GDE construction.

niceplacetolive said :

JC said:
Don’t understand why people coming from NSW down the Barton heading towards the city don’t turn off at the round-a-bout and head down Ginninderra Drive rather than through Mitchell.

Isn’t it nice that you are not on the side of the road checking out number plates and pointing people in the direction you think they should be travelling in.

Sorry you have been inconvenienced by an increase in traffic. I’d like to let you in on something. SO HAVE OTHER PEOPLE. Suck it up sunshine

Check out where the detour signs are and that will give you the answer.

BTW access to Ginninderra drive is not a suitable alternative for me.

What the hell is with the attitude? Get out of bed on the wrong side did we, or are you just a loud mouthed prat?

Some facts sunshine. 1 I live in Dunlop so am in no way shape or form effected by increased traffic or anything else by this disruption so I really don’t give a flying continental.

2. I was simply pointing out that traffic coming from the DIRECTION of NSW, IE from Yass heading to the City area are better off turning off before the bridge and head down Ginninderra drive? Certainly much better than doing a detour through Mitchell.

As for the detour signs no idea where they point, but sure as shit know which way I would be headed if I was going towards the city from the Barton highway.

Come on people build a bridge..

I’m not suggesting that we become as litigious as the yanks, but why isn’t there some mecahnism whereby people/organisations who cause major public disruptions pay some rerations or recompense for the harm they have caused?

This has created major productivity loss, additional fuel costs and personal inconvenience. We need some way for compensation to be paid to the disadvantaged travelling public.

There’s another GDE bridge I’ve been worried about ever since it opened – the one over Belconnen Way. There’s an awful long distance between the pylons as it crosses Belconnen Way, maybe too long a distance. I sure hope it is structually sound because from my uninformed and pedestrian standpoint it looks like it could fall down at any minute.

JC said:
Don’t understand why people coming from NSW down the Barton heading towards the city don’t turn off at the round-a-bout and head down Ginninderra Drive rather than through Mitchell.

Isn’t it nice that you are not on the side of the road checking out number plates and pointing people in the direction you think they should be travelling in.

Sorry you have been inconvenienced by an increase in traffic. I’d like to let you in on something. SO HAVE OTHER PEOPLE. Suck it up sunshine

Check out where the detour signs are and that will give you the answer.

BTW access to Ginninderra drive is not a suitable alternative for me.

niceplacetolive said :

Was this bridge unsafe to drive under at any time before the collapse, and if the bridge didn’t collapse during the concrete pour would it have had the potential to collapse due to poor building?

The engineers report states that the thing that caused the collapse was that the formwork wasn’t able to deal with the stresses of having concrete poured onto it. Without the concrete being poured, it would have been fine (though pointless, given that its job was to have concrete poured onto it).

Similarly, if by some miracle the thing hadn’t fallen over and the concrete had set, then it should have been fine.

The design faults aren’t with the bridge, but with the temporary formwork that was put in place to support the concrete while it was poured and dried and would have been removed once that had all happened.

Ginninderra dr also has roadwork right now. go figure.
Definitely avoid the Antill St/Nthbourne Ave interseaction also if you can.