msquared48
Structural
I have been trying to follow the recent controversy here with the leaking concrete pontoons and I am in a quandry.
For those who are unfamiliar with the situation, this bridge, a concrete "floating" bridge, is the sixth in the state of Washington of its kind, two on Hood Canal, and the fourth for Lake Washington, considering additions and replacements.
The pontoons are being fabricated in Aberdeen on the coast of Washigton, and being floated to the site on Lake Washington between Seattle and Bellevue. Apparently, the pontoons have developed cracks and leaking, both in the casting yard, and on site. The bridge is now delayed 6 months in it's completion until the summer of 2015. Lawsuits have been filed at this point to discover how the rep[airs are to be paid for and by whom.
What I cannot understand, is with the four previous bridges over the last 50 to 60 years of history with the original floating bridge for I-90 over Lake Washington, why is this a problem now? If details that worked were changed, why re-invent the wheel?
I have heard allegations regarding the contractor, state inspectors, and ths like, but I don't know what to believe here. Any additional insight Bridgebuilder?
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
For those who are unfamiliar with the situation, this bridge, a concrete "floating" bridge, is the sixth in the state of Washington of its kind, two on Hood Canal, and the fourth for Lake Washington, considering additions and replacements.
The pontoons are being fabricated in Aberdeen on the coast of Washigton, and being floated to the site on Lake Washington between Seattle and Bellevue. Apparently, the pontoons have developed cracks and leaking, both in the casting yard, and on site. The bridge is now delayed 6 months in it's completion until the summer of 2015. Lawsuits have been filed at this point to discover how the rep[airs are to be paid for and by whom.
What I cannot understand, is with the four previous bridges over the last 50 to 60 years of history with the original floating bridge for I-90 over Lake Washington, why is this a problem now? If details that worked were changed, why re-invent the wheel?
I have heard allegations regarding the contractor, state inspectors, and ths like, but I don't know what to believe here. Any additional insight Bridgebuilder?
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
