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Big Dig - One of Engineering's Greatest Mistakes?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants dept.

Enggirl1 writes "Design News discusses Boston's Big Dig and begs the question - is it one of engineering's greatest failures? The article reveals that forums and blogs are popping up all over the Internet as vehicles for engineers and contractors to discuss, under the guise of anonymity, their skepticism, thoughts and reactions to one of the biggest infrastructure failures in the news today." From the article: "One blogger, whose profile notes that he is an ICC Reinforced Concrete Special Inspector and an ICC Pre-stressed Concrete Special Inspector, among other specialties, says he has nearly 20 years of experience performing both placement and post-placement inspections of rebar, post-tensioning systems, concrete, masonry, etc. He says if structural engineers who specify epoxy for dowels and the like believe that the work is being done correctly then they live in a world unfamiliar to him."

10 of 379 comments (clear)

  1. details, details... by r00t · · Score: 5, Funny

    So it has a few bugs to work out. So it was delayed.

    It beat Duke Nukem Forever and even Vista. It's probably better quality too, and will last much longer.

    Patch it up and it'll be fine.

    1. Re:details, details... by Ucklak · · Score: 3, Funny

      Pigs. Pigs in Duke Nukem kill.

      --
      if you steal from one source, that is plagiarism, if you steal from many, well, that's just research.
  2. Re:Inspecting your own work by bcat24 · · Score: 5, Funny
    Would you let McDonald's do the FDA testing on their own food?
    McDonalds's serves food? I always thought it was a toxic waste disposal facility.
  3. So was it REALLY a failure? by Sixtyten · · Score: 2, Funny
    "Design News discusses Boston's Big Dig and begs the question - is it one of engineering's greatest failures? The article reveals that forums and blogs are popping up all over the Internet as vehicles for engineers and contractors to discuss, under the guise of anonymity, their skepticism, thoughts and reactions to one of the biggest infrastructure failures in the news today."
    Gee, you got me.
    1. Re:So was it REALLY a failure? by njfuzzy · · Score: 2, Funny

      The funny thing is, that means the summary really does 'beg the question'. Awesome.

      --
      My Photography - http://ian-x.com
      The Deathlings (comic) - http://thedeathlings.com
  4. Re:About rock bolts by schon · · Score: 5, Funny

    I sure as hell know that I would rather have 2 tons of styrofoam fall on my head then concrete.

    Because it would cushion the blow?

  5. and I quote by krunk4ever · · Score: 2, Funny
    from Armageddon:

    Hey Harry, you know we're sitting on four million pounds of fuel, one nuclear weapon and a thing that has 270,000 moving parts built by the lowest bidder. Makes you feel good doesn't it?
    --
    HD Trailers
  6. this is quite a hole by atarione · · Score: 2, Funny

    they have dug for themselves

    --
    actually I am happy to see you, however that is in fact a banana in my pocket.
  7. corrupt locat and state governments?! by Tumbleweed · · Score: 4, Funny


    What are you talking about? Massachusetts has the best politicians money can buy!

  8. Build I-695! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    We wouldn't be in this mess today if I-695 (the Inner Belt) had been built. Route 128 is a parking lot for hours each day because of this massive planning failure, and a handful of tunnels in downtown Boston isn't the solution.