Friends,
The number of accidents is alarming. Before Christmas, when TXDoT first put the digital speed limit signs north and south of I-35, accidents slowed down significantly. As you know, about a month ago, the accidents resumed. Reading all the comments, editorials, and emails; it is obvious that the blame is directed at TxDoT, James Construction, and the Department of Public Safety. As has been mentioned in at least 4 Town Halls and weekly meetings, failure in completing the construction on time has been detrimental to Salado. As presented to the Governor's Team, "Salado has suffered greatly because of it."
Also, as written by the Village Voice, one of the reasons is the number of semi-trucks using I-35. Totally agree. Count the number of trucks and the number of cars -- trucks almost out-number cars. Trucks driving too fast to meet schedules; tired, sleepy drivers; and inexperienced new drivers are among the reasons for the accidents.
As other citizens have proclaimed, radar and writing tickets will significantly help. Another highway route just for trucks must be found and/or created.
There are also other reasons, too:
The rainy weather. Spring, bluebonnets, Spring Break, and the High Holy Days of Passover and Easter have created more traffic and will continue to do so for the remainder of the year. And, of course, the price of fuel.
To remedy the accident problem: (1) we must continue to watch and pressure our authorities in completing the construction as soon as possible, (2) insist that the Department of Public Safety take a more active role in slowing down traffic and writing tickets, and (3) our Police Department protecting our Village by every means possible, and, as unpopular as it is, enforcing our Village laws and speed limits. 30 MPH means 30 MPH; not 40 or 50 or 60 MPH.
Most of all, we must remain vigilant, careful, and patient. Yes, patient with what little patience we have left. The construction will end; the DPS will become more involved; The Village will continue to add pressure on State and Federal Officials; our Police and Fire Departments will continue to protect and keep us safe; and perhaps in the future another route for trucks will be established.
Even with all of this, accidents will continue. We can do all of the above, but most of all, we must be careful and drive defensively. Additionally, we have an advantage over most I-35 drivers, we know the backroads. The road across the Dam is convenient when I-35 is blocked. A nice Sunday afternoon drive will find other ways to get to Salado as well as seeing some beautiful bluebonnets and land. Backroads may add an additional 10-20 minutes getting home, but it sure beats an 1 or 2 hours on I-35.
There are many things we can do and we will. This is Salado. We are masters had facing adversity and making it work for our benefit.
VR/Skip
Though blaming drivers is easy and typically drivers are at fault but with the issues surrounding the project isn’t anything that can be ignored or overlooked. And blaming TxDOT isn’t something sounds logical at all. The contract isn’t vague or ambiguous. The contract provides everyone the tools to follow.
ReplyDeleteIf a project is built and the contracted stages are changed, modified,or built out of sequence, have all of the design elements get thought about and thoroughly communicated to everyone including the designers?
Are the cross slopes, vertical curves, tangents, PGL, and super elevations constructed as per contract or would any of those elements be a field design and not communicated to designers that prepare TCP drawing or successive stage or design? Was there current up to date as built drawings prepared and provided to all the designers?
Are all the existing facilities removed where no more demolition is required and traffic lanes / flows in the vertical curves, super elevations, and tangents that designers would use to carry traffic flows into the following stages? If any changes occurred were those as built conditions provided and communicated to designers?
Is each stage completed or are there uncompleted portions that could adversely impact or affect a later stage? Did hydraulics increase in one area as a result of the water flowing where designers wouldn’t have used?
Is all temporary TCP devices properly spaced and placed as required by MUTCD or TXDOT? Are temporary barriers placed at MUTCD distances from the FOG line or are lanes narrowed? Are GORES installed in proper location or GORES length? Are lanes in the vertical curves and location to flow into the super or vertical curve?
Are all the underground drainage facilities completed and fully functional or are inlets and pipes a work in progress where temporary swales or drainage would be required?
Are all the bridge decks completed or are some left uncompleted?
Are the intersections constructed correctly and drainage flowing in the proper direction?
Is there enough temporary drainage or swales to carry water away and off the traveled / improved surfaces?
Are all field drawings up to date (conformed) and communicated to everyone involved or are the ones that actually construct the work left out the equation or changes communicated to every designer or personal overseeing project?
For as many wrecks that occurs, could it be solely the drivers fault or is something else occurring that designers might have not known about with the rapid succession of the changes to staged work. Designers work on exacts and allow for drivers errors so any omission or change could adversely impact a lot.
One really has to think about the wrecks. Look at what we deal with and how this projects housekeeping can't even be done to industry safety standards. And by the looks of the other projects and how those flow smoothly and look, it wouldn't be surprising if the above has merit.
ReplyDeleteMaybe TXDOT should stop progress and inspect every element ensuring each phase is completed as designed and fully functional. No project schedule is worth one wreck or worse. Wouldn't it be better to help, be cooperative and help resolve potential safety issues than pushing a project horrified with issues.
Something says by the time the lawyers get done it's going to be one expensive learning curve for someone. And by the time our Mayor is done dealing with higher authorities, it'll be well known don't mess with Texas includes Salado or our beauty.
Everyone knows safety is always first but when James Construction Group own employees openly speak about all the dumb stupid things their managers are getting away with and do then everyone should wonder if something has fallen through the cracks. Let’s be real when their former employee’s that we trusted aren’t bashful how much happier they are working at their new jobs and the others are gone are happier just to be away from what they themselves call dysfunctional managers that claim to know it all and expect everyone to be equally smart, including personal that hasn’t ever been on a project before then something sounds fishy. And by the looks of the project and all the uncompleted work; nothing should surprise any of us. Really sit back and think about it. When we see them tear out work and redo work like we’ve done and in some cases fix work that was just completed, that alone says management issues. We’ve read about their safety issues tearing up equipment, another management issue. We hear their own employee’s complain at lunch about much more, again management issues. There seems to be common theme yet it continues. So there shouldn’t be anything that we should be surprised about.
ReplyDeleteLosing Glenn, Ira and quite a few others was a terrible mistake that wasn't good for our community. We wish them well and we wish they'd come back and help the remaining few good ones left.
We already know TxDOT will make sure the public is safe regardless. It isn’t a big secret that TxDOT has their hands full reminding the contractor and babysitting personal from continually doing stupid things. And we are all grateful for TxDOT and their teams for doing an excellent job otherwise many feel, we’d be in worse shape than we’ve been dealt.
TxDOT will do what's best for public safety. This isn't their first rodeo nor is it their consultants first rodeo. Anyone that travels around and looks at Williams Brothers, Hunter Contracting and others construct their projects; Should be able to recognize the disaster in the making along the 35 corridor. What TxDOT has on their hands can be somewhat overwhelming for any public agency to undertake and with what we deal with, they have hard job ahead. Hell even James Construction own field craft employees speak the truth to many of us and what they deal with a witness.
ReplyDeleteMost of us have resolved internally that they'll be done when TxDOT says they are done. We don't want TxDOT to waiver from the contract or the quality of the work. We expect our taxpayer funds to spent as contracted. Substantial completion is when they'll be forever gone.
You will be reelected. For anyone else to become educated with the TxDOT process isn’t best for our community. You understand their inner workings and they like you. And you aren’t hesitant calling James Construction Company on the carpet with the issues we deal with that no other contractor would’ve subjected our community to. Most importantly you understand the urgency to keep our traveling public safe.
ReplyDeleteWhile you contemplate what’s next, we need to keep in the forefront and find out when TxDOT will have the Thomas Arnold overpass and everything else to the south 100% complete. Also please address with TxDOT all the damaged concrete curbs and PCC paving and when they plan removing and fixing. There is quite a bit along the frontage roads that will impact our travels and make a mess with the traffic when wrecks occur.
As many of see it, it makes no sense to open Salado Plaza until at least they at least finish prior stages that remain uncompleted and fix all the broken and damaged concrete surfaces and major items of work. In all reality for us to use Salado plaza that area really should be 100% complete. It is doubtful anyone wants to subject their families traveling through their work zones especially with the safety issues their own employees speak about.
It’s apparent we have to beg you to have James Construction Group keep their project clean and housekeeping up. So we beg you to please ask TxDOT to have the project cleaned up including mowing the weeds down. The piles of rebar, broken concrete and rubble scattered around is an eyesore and frankly we are fed up. Why doesn’t TxDOT make them clean up their work areas before leaving to go somewhere else? Our Village isn’t their pig pen or their garbage dump. This is one of the biggest problems we have, James Construction Group would rather make our Village look terrible than respect our right to coexist in our own community. Something so basic with anyone else is doesn’t exist unless we beg or become so frustrated we escalate to the Governor’s office. It is about to the point where complaints will be filed with OSHA and Office of Inspector General Department of Transportation if event the basics can’t be accomplished timelier.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.oig.dot.gov/Hotline
https://www.osha.gov/pls/osha7/eComplaintForm.html
What we'd like to know is whomever is handing out the stupid pills to James Construction Group needs to STOP IT. It’s very apparent that their Wall Street Executives don’t have a clue what is customarily normal for this type of work being performed. We’ve never seen a group of grown adults be as arrogant and cocky as this group can be. It must be a Wall Street thing to train their staff to act in such a fashion or they honestly don't care about anything but their own buck.
DeleteJames Construction Group needs to understand that we have a duty and right making sure the quality of the work meets the contractual obligation we paid to have them complete. We do expect TxDOT and their consultants to continue to ensure that all work meets the contractual obligation we the taxpayers paid to have completed or have it removed and replaced at no cost to us taxpayers. Make no mistake, every time we see them doing more of their stupid stuff or damaging work, we are going to gripe and complain.
What we see this group doing is repugnant and frankly makes most of us sick to our stomachs. From their broken and damaged concrete surfaces, drainages that don’t appear to be working, oversized rock in topsoil, form liners that appear to be worn out. Cement Treated Base that looks like a roller coaster with bond breaker that thick and thin reflecting through the concrete paving. To make matters worse the cross slopes on the concrete paving appear to be wavy. You should ask TxDOT to verify their cross slopes to make sure the slopes are installed as designed.
They can’t even keep their own housekeeping up we therefore shouldn’t ever expect this group to stop cluttering up our Village up making the public visual appearance of a garbage dump.