[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Listening to Engineers

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Listening to Engineers
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1187669278.shtml


   There's nothing profound in this post. What has happened after the
   collapse of the St. Anthony bridge was entirely predictable, but it
   bears repeating.
   Just after came calls that we weren't listening to the engineers. We
   weren't reading their inspection reports. Why, this bridge was
   structurally deficient, and had been for some time. We need people who
   really know what they're doing running MnDot, not a part time elected
   official.
   Now, of course, the new bridge is ground zero for politicians trying
   to add on unnecessary, unwise, and even unrelated items to the cost of
   reconstruction. It's almost amusing to see the City of Minneapolis,
   Hennepin County, the Metropolitan Council, and the State Legislature
   elbowing each other for control of at least of portion of the project.
   Personally, I hope the bickering continues, to show our weak Governor
   that no good can possibly come from a Special Session. They'll be back
   in session soon enough.
   So who's listening to the engineers now? Nobody. As U.S. Senator Joe
   Biden might say, these decisions are way above their pay grade.