You Think You Have Problems Now...

If you don't like the detour caused by the closing of the BRB now, wait (we can only hope) until construction actually starts. Discussion among friends has us wondering about the projected construction plan which includes Amity. Would it be possible Amity could be closed at the same time the BRB is? Nah...right? Do the plans tend to the two aging bridges on Amity? Yikes, maybe it is better not to think about it. Maybe these questions would be good to pose to Mr Johnson and Mr Ford when they appear at Weatherby Lake City Hall on the 7th.

Bridge Inspection Report

Still waiting on KCMO Public Works to release the inspection report on the BRB done in May. The previous report, two years ago by MODOT, makes you wonder why something wasn't done on a bridge that clearly was going down hill...and makes me wonder what happened to the money the State gave KCMO when they turned to bridge over to KCMO. Might be a good question to ask Messrs Funkhouser, Ford and Johnson.


Previous comment mentioned the fact there are no performance incentives in the piece of Barry that includes the BRB. Here is what happens when contractors are incented to perform...they do. The new I-35 bridge in Minneapolis.

Johnson to join Ford

Apparently KCMO Councilman Russ Johnson will join Ed Ford in attending the next Weatherby Lake Board of Alderman meeting on October 7th. Should be very interesting, to say the least. I believe this will be the first Northland public meeting the two have attended since the BRB fiasco began. I would think they understand the sentiments of those affected by the closure, so this wouldn't be a fact finding appearance. Could they have a more satisfactory answer than the stock PR releases by KCMO Public Works? We shall see.

One Month

If you are counting (I am) since the hoopla surrounding the BRB press conference. Indignant politicians (Funkhouser & Bos), wannabe's (Dusenberry & Quitmeier) and MAST Ambulance Director Hooten all deplored the closing of the bridge. Other than the press conference itself, media coverage has been meager (Vasto @ the Luminary is the exception).

In the meantime we, you and me, are left holding the bag. Response times to our residences by Police, Fire, Ambulance lengthened, neighborhoods made a little more dangerous due to change in traffic patterns, and the daily inconvenience/irritation of rerouting. Do you ever come down Barry going west, see the closed bridge, and give a sigh as you are forced to turn on to Amity? I do.

Touching Base

I sent requests for updates on progress to Ford, Johnson and Funkhouser earlier this week. Mr Ford's aide responded (previous post), that is it so far. With everything going on in City Hall in KCMO it will be very easy to defer attention to the BRB. The bid process is moving, albeit slowly...I don't think one could categorize it as progress. A phone call or email (contacts in previous posts) is an easy way to let the elected officials know how important it is to you. WL folks, same thing, ask your alderman and mayor about the current status.

Ford to appear

Lisa Minardi, aide to Councilman Ed Ford has indicated Mr Ford has requested to be on the Agenda of the Weatherby Lake monthly Board of Alderman meeting on Tuesday, October 7th. I'll confirm and post. The meeting is held at WL City Hall @ 7PM.

A Thousand Hits

Not counting the "soldiers" that got nailed by motorists on the BRB prior to closing.

That's how many hits in about six weeks this blog has received...surprising for a singular theme blog like this. Pressure on the politicians will be the only way this situation can change. What have you done to help?

Weary

Talking with a "volleyball mom" (is that our equivalent of a hockey mom?) Friday night. She lives at the very end of Wildwood West. I asked her how the BRB closing has affected her. Got that pained look on her face as she said she felt "weary". Are you there yet?

Another One Bites the Dust

Received a report from a devoted blogite of a bridge closing on Childress...will investigate and post today.

UPDATE...I did a site inspection and indeed the road had been closed due to a replacement of stormwater culvert underneath the road. Good news it is open today, road patched, good as new. Of course we are talking about Platte County Roads vs our friends at KCMO.

Bid Activity

See Anon comment on previous post. Moving forward, right? In the meantime construction activity at the Park Hill site is impressive...for its lack of activity. A preview of what is to come...slow mo, with little to no silt control.

Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - More than a year after a key Minneapolis bridge collapsed and killed 13 people, state troopers prepared to lead motorists in a slow procession Thursday morning across the new span that reconnects Interstate 35W over the Mississippi River.
Crews were scheduled to remove barricades that have stood since the old bridge fell Aug. 1, 2007, reopening a major artery leading in and out of Minneapolis that carried 140,000 trips a day.


Might be a great time to drop a note or call the Funk, Ed and Russ regarding our bridge. Let them know we are still here...and waiting.

Mayor Mark FunkhouserCity Hall, 29th floor • 414 E. 12th St. • Kansas City, MO 64106 • Phone: (816) 513-3500 • Fax: (816) 513-3518 • E-mail: mayor@kcmo.org


Russ Johnson, 2nd District Councilman
Traci Gleason, assistant513-1622traci_gleason@kcmo.org
Ed Ford, 2nd District At Large Councilman
Lisa Minardi, assistant513-1601lisa_minardi@kcmo.org

A Big Number

Average daily cars crossing bridge=6000 (per KCMO)
x 365x 2.5x 1 (mile detour from Potomac to Amity,Barry, your results may vary, 2.5 yrs for new bridge)
Divided by 20 (swag for average mpg of vehicles)
x$ 3.50 a gallon

$958,125...the conservative estimate of how much the detour will cost motorists. On the bright side, some of that will be going to your favorite governmental entity in the form of gas taxes...half full...right?

Ask and you shall receive

Dennis Gagnon, Public Information Officer, KCMO Public Works Department has provided their information on file regarding traffic on the BRB, prior to its demise. 6000 vehicles a day.

Infrastructure

"As many have pointed out, the reason elected officials tend to neglect infrastructure project issues, like reinforcing levees in New Orleans and bridges in Minneapolis, is that there's no glory when a bridge doesn't collapse. There are no round-the-clock news specials when the levees hold. You can't even name an overpass retrofitting project after yourself -- it just looks too silly. But everyone's taxes go up to pay for the reinforcements."



Ann Coulter

We'll get back to you

Eventually, maybe. I have two requests into KCMO Public Works, one for the current inspection report of the BRB and the actual traffic count pre-closing. Received responses promising both. I'm still waiting. Tomorrow marks two weeks the BRB is closed. The politicians got their face time in front of the cameras, pounded on the dais how awful the BRB situation is, and...not a whisper more.

To Build a Bridge

Mayor Funkhouser cited the building of the Sprint Center and the rebuilding of the I-35 Bridge in MN as examples of projects that took less time than the closure of the BRB is guesstimated. FYI, the bridge in Minneapolis collapsed on Aug 1st, 2007. It will be completed soon, see latest from today's Minneapolis StarTribune.

"MINNEAPOLIS - Construction crews working on the new Interstate 35W bridge said Saturday that the bridge could be completed even earlier than expected.
Flatiron Construction officials say that the bridge could be complete in as early as 10 days and that workers are putting the final touches on the new bridge."

It should be noted, healthy performance incentives are in place to complete the project which originally had a completion date of 24 December, 2008.

Oops

Had friends from Liberty over this afternoon, I forgot to tell them about the BRB. One went around the Lake, the other through Wildwood. Both asked, "What happened?" I started with the pot holes this spring on the BRB, then the patching, then the plates, then the soldiers, then the barricades...welcome to the BarryRoadBrouhaha! Their eyes were glazed over. Then the frosting on the cake...two and half years! I could tell they were being polite, nodding with a serious look. Later on in the afternoon I sent them on their way with the secret detour route...I could tell they felt privileged.

Options?

Between emails from KCMO officials and reports from various individuals, KCMO seems to be weighing options to remedy the BRB besides us waiting out 2 and a half years. Hard to get a sense if they are serious or just trying to get us off their backs. To be sure...the heat applied by you/us in the affected area has been felt by politicians and bureaucrats alike. Today marks one week since the press conference conducted by Funkhouser/Bos et al. The Funk put his "flag in the ground" likening the bridge situation here to the Minnesota collapse and bridge rebuilding" One week down, 51 to go?

I have requested a report from KCMO Public Works regarding the traffic count for the BRB. The count as quoted by an assortment individuals varies wildly, I'll pass along as soon as I get it.