Thursday, January 26, 2017

President Trump's infrastructure plan

McClatchy Newspapers has obtained the latest version of a working list of the 50 top infrastructure projects of the Trump administration. Three listed projects directly affect the Ohio. They are, including their rank on the priority list:

2. The Brent Spence Bridge at Cincinnati, $2.5 billion.
4. Locks and dams 52 and 53, $3 billion.
45. Upper Ohio navigation improvements (Emsworth, Dashields, Montgomery), $1.7 billion.

There are also two projects listed on tributaries.

42. Chickamauga Lock and Dam on the Tennessee River, $383 million.
46. Monongahela River navigation (Charleroi Locks and Dam), $900 million.

On other rivers, the plan includes

37. Upper Mississippi locks and dams 20-25, $1.8 billion.
38. Illinois River locks (Lagrange and Peoria), $640 million.


A few more bridge demolition photos

Here are some more pictures I got Monday as the first stop in the dismantlement of the old Ironton-
Russell Bridge began.

First, a view from the Kentucky side of the river above the bridge.


Here, from the Ohio side, is a view of guys who I assume are operating the cables that lowered part of the center span. I know the engineers did the math and all, but it must have been odd being up there and wondering what to do if something didn't go as planned.


Toward the end of the lowering, there was a sliver of daylight between the metal and the barges.


These guys probably had the best view of the whole process.


It must have been great to be the photographer hired by the company to document the work,if there was one.

What are these things on the remaining bridge structure? I don't know, but we'll probably find out soon enough.


And finally, I tried to get all artsy with a shot, but it didn't work. Maybe next time.


The people who watched the work got a good show. A slow-motion show, but a good one.

The old bridge is too close to too many homes on the Kentucky side and too many businesses on the Ohio side to allow for demolition by explosion. Those are always nice to experience (when all goes as planned), but this was interesting, too. Plus if you are a little late, you still get to see something.