Journal #8397
Posted 9 years ago2014-06-30 00:52:26 UTC
It's not everyday that the Government can shut down a major highway... In Connecticut(CT) we have about 6,000 bridges and about 20% of those need replacing. The one in this video happens to be a bridge I cross everyday on my way to, and home from work.
CT shut down this highway's bridge over this last weekend (a major travel-lane through the state) in order to replace the aging bridge. In the months leading up to this, they built a replacement bridge next to the existing bridge.
Once it was complete, they tore down the old one, and SLID the new one into place. Just shimmied it right in there. It fit like a glove. This is one of the reasons why I chose to become an Engineer. Because shit like this. This is almost as marvelous to me as the NASA engineers landing the last Rover on Mars. I love being blown away seeing what humans can accomplish when we focus on the betterment of society instead of bickering about meaningless problems.
Check the time-lapse: http://youtu.be/vX-XjeXocNE
The stress test begins tomorrow. I'll drive over the new bridge; I have faith it'll stand up.
Also, the machines look like they're quite hungry in fast-motion.
CT shut down this highway's bridge over this last weekend (a major travel-lane through the state) in order to replace the aging bridge. In the months leading up to this, they built a replacement bridge next to the existing bridge.
Once it was complete, they tore down the old one, and SLID the new one into place. Just shimmied it right in there. It fit like a glove. This is one of the reasons why I chose to become an Engineer. Because shit like this. This is almost as marvelous to me as the NASA engineers landing the last Rover on Mars. I love being blown away seeing what humans can accomplish when we focus on the betterment of society instead of bickering about meaningless problems.
Check the time-lapse: http://youtu.be/vX-XjeXocNE
The stress test begins tomorrow. I'll drive over the new bridge; I have faith it'll stand up.
Also, the machines look like they're quite hungry in fast-motion.
16 Comments
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Docs and Nurses I know say there is a lot of redundancy built into the system to prevent one person's mistake from killing you, but still... fuck that!
A point which he would make whenever someone in the class made a stupid mistake.
Of course if you're an engineer, it won't be immediate, and on any large project there will be other engineers there to hopefully catch mistakes, but you should still try not to make one.
As an Architect, I will be responsible for the safeness of all the things I do, from parks to high-rise buildings. Parks don't kill anyone, but just like with any other potentially lethal building, I still want to do them as best as I can. Because I'm doing this not "just to get by", but for the pleasure of making the world a better place.
My first encounter with the term "Engineer" was when I had to build the annoying engineer houses in Caesar III to prevent the building from collapsing :)).
@ Scotch - You really don't have to worry about fucking up until you're a P.E. Once you take a state-certified test, you become a legitimate Professional Engineer and have a serial numbered/registered stamp that you place onto approved drawings. Other than that, Engineers work as a team, and the driving factor is getting a job done right. It's just a bunch of smart people working together as a team; they want to be proud to be associated with their work.
@ Archie - More pics and stuff can be found here: http://www.earthcam.net/projects/ctdot/interstate84/?cam=cam1
On the other hand, OM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM
Though, right up until one of them gets out into the open, you could completely believe the two diggers under the right side are the front legs of a giant mecha-spider feeding asphalt into its mouth.