One bridge done, one to go

I put up a post back in November 2015 about the bridge project between me and I-270, the road I take to get to work each day. I put the completion over-under at March 1 for that project, and took the over. I would've made some money if a bookie actually cared about that bet. Even with winter time off, and rainy spring delays, these guys were way behind. Nonetheless, in late May, the bridge opened:

Still a sharp turn involved:

Should be OK, I guess.

I also put up a post in August 2015 indicating that a second bridge project was starting to look like a bridge. Now, it is starting to look like a one-lane road, and I don't know when they will finish:

I think the bridge over Lake Linganore has a fundamental problem

As I reported back in August, the county is building a new bridge on Boyers Mill Road across Lake Linganore, taking a pretty good horseshoe curve out of the road. In August, things looked like this:

Looking bridge-like, but clearly far from done. Now, a fair amount of progress has been made, although I don't think we're anywhere near done:

Also, I notice a key problem that will limit the usefulness of this bridge at first. Look at the right side of the bridge:

Connecting the new bridge to the roadway is going to require taking out the old bridge, meaning that we will essentially have a one-lane bridge on a busy road for an indeterminate amount of time. Should be fund. I would say I'm sure they have a plan to deal with this, but we're talking about government here, so the plan probably is, hey, why don't you stupid tax-paying fucks just deal with a one-lane bridge. Maybe they can fit two lanes to the left. We'll see.

I guess they'll finish one day

Lots of rain recently, leading me to take this picture of the rampaging river that the state Department of Transportation has decided to bridge:

They're cutting the "U" out of a horseshoe curve by going straight across the stream, but they're taking their own sweet time. The footings seem to be poured, though:

In my previous post on this bridge construction, I put the over-under for completion at March 1. I see no reason to change that right now.

The new bridge is starting to look more bridge-like

The county is building a new, bigger, straighter bridge across Lake Linganore on Boyers Mill Road, and it is starting to look bridge-ish:

That picture is taken through the windshield of a moving vehicle piloted by the photographer. Please, kids, don't try this at home. Even if you are wearing your Mr. Science lab coat. Not sure when it will be finished, but the bridge will eliminate the horseshoe curve to the right that currently takes you across this narrow neck of the lake (and takes the road out of the frame in this picture). There is another local bridge project that I hope to photograph soon, perhaps this weekend. Not that any of you care, of course, but I like shit like that. Also, this is not a bridge-construction blog -- unless I say it is. Dissatisfied readers may refer to the title of the blog.

I don't know why, but this strikes me as kind of funny

The homeowners association where I live -- and remind me to never again live in a place with a homeowners association -- has sent out what I consider to be interesting emails lately. The county is building a new bridge across the lakes that split this development, and apparently on Monday they will be lowering the water level of the lakes by two feet. As you can see, there is ice on the lakes:

 Anyway, the current situation looks like this:

I am pretty sure that the structure shrouded in white canvas or plastic is a concrete piling that they are trying to keep warm so that it will cure properly:

I got no damn idea what the rest of that shit is doing. Anyway, not the water level in the middle picture, because in a couple weeks, it is supposed to be a lot lower, and I will have pictures. In the meantime, take a gander at the kind of advice the lakefront folks apparently need from the HOA;

Beginning the week of February 16th, the main lake (Lake Linganore), will be lowered. The lowered lake level will be maintained for the remainder of February and March. Beginning April 1st the lake will be allowed to refill to normal levels.
Prevent Dock Damage
When the lake ice freezes to docks and boats, it can become damaging if left unchecked. When the water level is reduced, the ice should break away from boats and docks, however if for some reason this does not happen and ice remains stuck to your dock and/or boat, please consider breaking up the ice pieces to prevent structural damage. Ice left on boats and docks can cause abnormal twisting and damage.
It is also very important that homeowners with stationary docks on the lake, lengthen their mooring lines to accommodate boats dropping by approximately 2 feet.

There are, I think, so many dilletante boat owners around here that this advice is necessary. Personally, I think it would be fucking hilarious to see the number of stationary-dock owners who failed to extend their mooring lines and would but with the boat hanging from the dock or, better still, the bow hanging from the dock and the stern underwater, boat sunk. Mighta been interesting.