A BIG WTF to the City of Calgary Road Construction Crews

[RONDAL]

Are these people braindead? Are they just that stupid that they cannot do anything right at all?

Some of you may have noticed construction just west of kensington on memorial drive in the left hand east bound lane. This is the same lane that is used during the counterflow in the evenings and has cars coming west bound.

Some f@cking idiot at the city decided to solve the large puddle issue that kept forming where cars would enter back into the west bound lanes they would put a massive sewer grate RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE where your tires are as you go round the corner.

They dug up a massive area. They could have easily positioned the drain 2' to the southwest and it wouldn't be in anyones way. They also could have easily brought the pavement back up to level around the drain. Instead we now have something that could potentially smash your oilpan or wheel apart if you are not paying attention, and is in a spot where you have zero area to avoid the object.

These guys doing the work are real muppets. The fact that in 30 seconds of seeing where they positioned the drain, i was able to realize a better solution, shows how incompetent these guys are.

So just be aware, east bound left lane memorial just after you make the left under the overpass of 14th st. as the road jigs right again in the left corner of the turn there is now a big oilpan killer.

[R_Ethug]

Re: A BIG WTF to the City of Calgary Road Construction Crews

awesome! city sucks!

[VAG_Tech]

Re: A BIG WTF to the City of Calgary Road Construction Crews

Anyone need a new engine on the city? Now's the time to do it.... The roads of Calgary blow even after they "fix" them...

[Jester B]

Re: A BIG WTF to the City of Calgary Road Construction Crews

Hmmm, ya, and I saw them dig the big friggin hole down to the storm sewer line and place the drain there on purpose. Oh, wait, I didn't. I guess they did the best they could with what they had in a cost effective way.

Curb removal and re-design....or massive underground infrastructure change and totally screwing up an inventive way to address a bottleneck. I'll choose to pay attention and drive around the grate, thank you.

Or...you could always take the right lane and be sure to avoid it all together.

[Mitcheh]

Re: A BIG WTF to the City of Calgary Road Construction Crews

Hmmm, ya, and I saw them dig the big friggin hole down to the storm sewer line and place the drain there on purpose. Oh, wait, I didn't. I guess they did the best they could with what they had in a cost effective way.

Curb removal and re-design....or massive underground infrastructure change and totally screwing up an inventive way to address a bottleneck. I'll choose to pay attention and drive around the grate, thank you.

Or...you could always take the right lane and be sure to avoid it all together.

Haha pwnd

[nordex]

Re: A BIG WTF to the City of Calgary Road Construction Crews

Hmmm, ya, and I saw them dig the big friggin hole down to the storm sewer line and place the drain there on purpose. Oh, wait, I didn't. I guess they did the best they could with what they had in a cost effective way.

Curb removal and re-design....or massive underground infrastructure change and totally screwing up an inventive way to address a bottleneck. I'll choose to pay attention and drive around the grate, thank you.

Or...you could always take the right lane and be sure to avoid it all together.

I think it’s totally super like awesome Calgary is lucky enough to have outstanding citizens like you who do not hold the city responsible. Give yourself a big pat on the back.

All he was trying to say is the city workers just do whatever because they really don't have to answer to anyone. Had they thought about things I’m sure they could have created a cost effective solution on a budget.

As a matter of fact I watched them rip up my neighbors front yard to repair a water main. They replaced all the grass and concrete only to realize they did not solve the problem and had to rip it all up again. Who knows if this is hazardous maybe the city will need to redo it after people begin to call and let the city know the new handy work has caused damage.

Unfortunately were not all as great as you and in less then perfect circumstances we may not see this. Maybe when the roads snow covered or wet and dark.

So like thanks for your totally awesome like two cents like okay.

P.S.: Do you happen to work for the city?

[RONDAL]

Re: A BIG WTF to the City of Calgary Road Construction Crews

Hmmm, ya, and I saw them dig the big friggin hole down to the storm sewer line and place the drain there on purpose. Oh, wait, I didn't. I guess they did the best they could with what they had in a cost effective way.

Curb removal and re-design....or massive underground infrastructure change and totally screwing up an inventive way to address a bottleneck. I'll choose to pay attention and drive around the grate, thank you.

Or...you could always take the right lane and be sure to avoid it all together.

cost effective? did you see the size of what they dug up to place a sewer drain? they took out a good 15' of curb and median and easily could have located the drain in this area, routed the underground back to the mainline and sloped the roadway so that they water drained to where the drain was positioned.

but what would i know...i wouldn't know a thing about construction.

[DeanerF]

Re: A BIG WTF to the City of Calgary Road Construction Crews

was it actually city of calgary workers?

or a contractor?

its pretty brutal how most of the road repairs done in alberta (yes all of alberta) are complete crap.

[Jester B]

Re: A BIG WTF to the City of Calgary Road Construction Crews

All he was trying to say is the city workers just do whatever because they really don't have to answer to anyone. Had they thought about things I’m sure they could have created a cost effective solution on a budget.

As a matter of fact I watched them rip up my neighbors front yard to repair a water main. They replaced all the grass and concrete only to realize they did not solve the problem and had to rip it all up again. Who knows if this is hazardous maybe the city will need to redo it after people begin to call and let the city know the new handy work has caused damage.

Unfortunately were not all as great as you and in less then perfect circumstances we may not see this. Maybe when the roads snow covered or wet and dark.

So like thanks for your totally awesome like two cents like okay.

P.S.: Do you happen to work for the city?

First of all yes, I work for the City. So if that makes my comments biased and you want to ignore me I'm ok with that. However, it may also mean I have a general clue about what I'm talking about. I'll even fess up and say that I'm not involved in construction of any sort, nor am I an engineer.

I'm not going to say that the grate on the curve is the best design. I hit it myself on Friday afternoon. However, I also took the time to look around and realize what was going on. I'll try to explain that again as I reply to RONDAL's insights.

cost effective? did you see the size of what they dug up to place a sewer drain? they took out a good 15' of curb and median and easily could have located the drain in this area, routed the underground back to the mainline and sloped the roadway so that they water drained to where the drain was positioned.

but what would i know...i wouldn't know a thing about construction.

You actually answered your own question. They took out 15' of curb. This had nothing to do with a drainage issue, it was about rounding out the curb to make the move from the counterflow lane back into the left hand lane an easier turn. Unfortunately, there was a catch basin on the original curb. Nice little grate, on the end, not in anybodies way. Now that they moved the curb back the harmless little catch basin is in the middle of the road. Thus, the problem.

A catch basin is a big vertical concrete pipe that goes from the surface and is connected to the storm sewer main (another big concrete pipe). But, you seem to know much of this already. All I'm saying is that just "moving the grate" isn't all that easy without a substantial amount of underground infrastructure work that would take Memorial down to one lane for an extended period of time. That and this work wasn't about the drainage issue...it was about making a corner smoother.

From what I saw, the grate in question only comes into play for those going from the counterflow lane back across into the "normal" lane. And this only happens a couple hours each work day. And now that you know it's there, go around it. And if you really think it's that bad, call 311 and complain. Call your Alderman and complain. Maybe something will get done about it.

[RONDAL]

Re: A BIG WTF to the City of Calgary Road Construction Crews

the city of calgary handles complaints worse than kevin lowe manages the oilers. i'll get the same response that i got last time **** work was done.

"we take your concern seriously, and will review it for future jobs, but the work in the area in question is complete and we have found it to be a satisfactory level."

thank you have a nice day, we're retarded and can't seem to get anything right. that is what she should just say.

I doubt memorial would have had to have been closed for an extended period, if any period of time. Just as how they had it, most of the work could have taken place in the island, not in the lane. It's a dead issue now anyway, the work is done, it wont be changed and they won't learn from any kind of feedback you give them.

Maybe if you work for the city of calgary road crew you could do us all a favor since you are on the inside. You can try and explain to someone that matters, that the road construction and work that has/is being done is subpar especially for those that dont drive a dodge 3500. A debate on here is pointless, but since you have the inside scoop maybe you can help us all out a little. Cause they dont listen to a word we say.

[Jester B]

Re: A BIG WTF to the City of Calgary Road Construction Crews

I wish I could help with the understanding that some of us drive cars, not trucks and do appreciate a surface that is not akin to an old wagon trail. However, I'm not in Roads, or even in the Transportation Department so I have no more "pull" than the general public. I should also say that these are my opinions alone and I am in no way speaking on behalf of the City.

I do, however, take offence to when people who are doing their job to the best of their ability in the restrictions that are placed on them are called lazy or stupid. It's just not fair to make a blanket statement about peoples' work ethic without understanding the restrictions / expectations that have been placed on them as part of their job (but that's in my other thread about City workers), and I get defensive.

[James]

Re: A BIG WTF to the City of Calgary Road Construction Crews

ive contracted at the city...even in the offices downtown you still get to lean on the shovel...ballin'

[RONDAL]

Re: A BIG WTF to the City of Calgary Road Construction Crews

I do, however, take offence to when people who are doing their job to the best of their ability in the restrictions that are placed on them are called lazy or stupid. It's just not fair to make a blanket statement about peoples' work ethic without understanding the restrictions / expectations that have been placed on them as part of their job (but that's in my other thread about City workers), and I get defensive.

here's my problem. i can't honestly bring myself to believe that individuals who are working for the city are doing their jobs to the best of their abilities. I know people who work for the city and the openly brag that they DON'T have to work hard. I have also done work with the city and saw the stereotypical leanin' on the shovel gig every day.
If everyone at the city is in fact working as hard as they can and earning every dollar they are paid the city needs to fire their HR staff and get someone new in. They must have done a recruiting fair and had a short bus make a wrong stop and somehow have hired all of them. It's ridiculous.

I can appreciate there is bad apples who make others look bad, but the problem with bad apples is it spreads. You should know this better than any of us, that hard work is not rewarded when you are working for cities. This spreads, and you have bosses who 'take their time' to get stuff done, thus setting an example. it sucks...

[nordex]

Re: A BIG WTF to the City of Calgary Road Construction Crews

HAHAH could not have put it better myself.

[DeanerF]

Re: A BIG WTF to the City of Calgary Road Construction Crews

here's my problem. i can't honestly bring myself to believe that individuals who are working for the city are doing their jobs to the best of their abilities. I know people who work for the city and the openly brag that they DON'T have to work hard. I have also done work with the city and saw the stereotypical leanin' on the shovel gig every day.
If everyone at the city is in fact working as hard as they can and earning every dollar they are paid the city needs to fire their HR staff and get someone new in. They must have done a recruiting fair and had a short bus make a wrong stop and somehow have hired all of them. It's ridiculous.

This is all Absolutely true, and if you have worked in construction you will know this. Don't even try to argue it either