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TxDOT's Proposals to the Corps: Do Nothing and Build a Pile of Dirt

2

They Don't Hate the Dallas Cowboys. They Hate Cowboys Fans

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Steel Yourself: Next Month, An All-Star Party to Celebrate "Bridging the Trinity"

By Robert Wilonsky in News You Can Actually Use, Actually
Monday, Aug. 3 2009 @ 10:37AM
trinitymodel.jpg
Sam Merten
Turns out, we'd like to take back everything we ever said about that Trinity River Corridor Project model. It was accurate after all.
​The steel for the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge's been down by the Trinity River for, oh, a few days at least -- I breathlessly ogled the two cylinders, each 36 feet long and 17 feet across, only yesterday while driving from Oak Cliff to downtown (surprisingly, no one else was marveling at the sight from the lonesome Trinity Overlook Park). Why, you can see the steel for yourself. But this morning, the Trinity Trust issued its official press release, complete with pictures, announcing the arrival of "two of the largest and most highly anticipated pieces of steel" for the Calatrava bridge, which will likely be finished long before the thing can actually connect downtown to West Dallas.

In the press release, however, we do find word of a party scheduled for September:
To celebrate the progress to date, The Trinity Trust Foundation will host "Bridging the Trinity" on the Continental Bridge on Friday, September 25, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. Joining Santiago Calatrava will be Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert and the National Honorary Chairs U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. Honorary Event Chairs are Mary McDermott Cook, Lyda Hill, Al Hill Jr. and Alinda Wikert. Lynn McBee is the Event Chair, and Christy Berry is the Host Committee Chair.
17 comment(s) / Post a Comment
Rick says:

How is it going to be possible to build this bridge if the Corps of Engineers hasn't waved their hands over the construction between the levees? Is it different than the parkway?

Posted On: Monday, Aug. 3 2009 @ 11:08AM
Rawlins in Blunderland says:

Allegedly leaked by ‘insurgent PR’ insiders:

Geared to coincide with the Mayor's speech; Angela Hunt is set to reprise her unofficial role as drum majorette, leading a 'pack of youth’ banging individual 'commemorative gongs' while Jim Schutze follows, headlining a 'sizable brigade' (described as non-violent parolees) playing 'audio-enhanced' bagpipes.

Posted On: Monday, Aug. 3 2009 @ 11:15AM
Grumpy Demo says:


Shorter Trinty Trust (with amplification by the DMN):

"If we don't clap tinker bell, aka the Calatrava Bridge, dies."

Dallas the epicenter of magical thinking.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_thinking

Posted On: Monday, Aug. 3 2009 @ 11:40AM
Lakewooder says:

Note to Chris Heinbaugh: This soiree deserves a catchy name. Might I suggest Emperors New Clothes, yes, no?

Posted On: Monday, Aug. 3 2009 @ 11:43AM
JC says:

I had the same question as Rick. Anyone know the answer?

Posted On: Monday, Aug. 3 2009 @ 12:20PM
Anonymoose says:

@JC and Rick:
I have read here and elsewhere that the Corps has allowed construction to continue inside the levees only. I don't know why--if it's because there were already piers in place when the sand issues came to light or for some other reason. However, no approaches can be built yet to link the bridge to roadways outside of the levees. This will literally be a bridge to nowhere until levee safety issues are resolved.

If anyone has more info, please fill us in.

Posted On: Monday, Aug. 3 2009 @ 12:49PM
richard schumacher says:

To fulfill the vision shown in the model we just have to find some really long sheets of plywood.

Posted On: Monday, Aug. 3 2009 @ 1:02PM
Sam Merten says:

The corps is indeed allowing construction to continue in between the levees, but, from what I understand, the work on the approaches was halted because it involves penetrations into the levees, which obviously is a concern given the “unacceptable” rating of the levees by the corps.

Posted On: Monday, Aug. 3 2009 @ 1:26PM
Wick says:

In spite of so many detractors, our future has arrived. I would like to thank everyone for their interest, both positive and negative, in this important project.

I would ask that in the future, all look to DM for guidance on key projects. I know the DO offers an interesting diatribe on activities. But please consider the credentials of the DO. Their key people, Schutze, Donald, Whitley etc are all FORMER DM employees, throwbacks if you will. It is very hard to keep pace with the pulse of the city but I am sure they did their best.

Tim and I look forward to one day very soon driving down the new road in the levies, crossing the spectacular bridge and arriving at the new hotel. I will really appreciate you cheering us on as we pass by you.

Posted On: Monday, Aug. 3 2009 @ 1:46PM
Tom L (No, Not That L) says:

Man oh man is Dallas ever going to be a laughingstock. As Sam implies and Anonymoose comes out and says, "this will literally be a bridge to nowhere ..."

It's one thing to tell people in the pages of the Observer and here online about the problems related to this bridge and the whole tollroad project. It'll be another thing altogether when everybody and their dog can see this huge attention-getting bridge that is just sitting in the middle of the flood plain, unattached to anything. I imagine the resulting image will be so iconic that pictures of it will quickly circulate around the globe.

Posted On: Monday, Aug. 3 2009 @ 1:54PM
JC says:

Thanks for the answer. Based on the incident with the drilling of the first piling, though (they hit sand, everything went catty-wumpus, they poured massive amounts of concrete into the hole), I'm not even sure they'll be able to complete the between-the-levee stuff.

Posted On: Monday, Aug. 3 2009 @ 3:25PM
dave Little says:

I don't think Wick should be allowed to make comments on this blog.

Posted On: Monday, Aug. 3 2009 @ 4:34PM
Robert Wilonsky says:

Dave, it's the Fake Wick, to whom we were introduced some weeks back. Frankly, I allow it simply because I find him more entertaining than the real thing.

Posted On: Monday, Aug. 3 2009 @ 4:36PM
dave Little says:

Oh. I like the fake wick. now if i can only become friends with the fake tim rogers, my life would become oh so complete.

Posted On: Monday, Aug. 3 2009 @ 4:40PM
Grumpy Demo says:


Fake Wick, actually sounds more rational than the "real" Wick.

The "real" is too gutless to allow comments on his kiss HP's tail website.

I wish he'd change his magazine's name to
"W" it would at least be more honest.

Posted On: Monday, Aug. 3 2009 @ 6:23PM
HSH says:

Will someone PLEASE invite Sarah Palin? What could possibly be better than the mistress of the former bridge to nowhere presiding over the ceremonies for the new Bridge to Nowhere?

Posted On: Monday, Aug. 3 2009 @ 9:59PM
Engmofo says:

two cylinders, each 36 feet long and 17 feet accross........Skateboarders everywhere desend opon this Italian given bounty. I'm gonna have me some o that.

Posted On: Wednesday, Aug. 5 2009 @ 3:02PM


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