Gribblenation

Happy Independence Day to everyone! I hope everyone is taking some time off to enjoy our great nation's birthday. Myself, I have been taking the day off to catch up around the house, clean out the SUV, work on some pages, and have time to enjoy the rest of the day.

I announced updates to three states today. Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.

Florida:

I added over 35 photos from JP Natsiatka and one from myself to the gallery. JP, who had been hoping that gn.com would add Florida, sent in and continues to send in photos from throughout Florida. I added one photo of my own from the trip to St. Augustine in May 2004.

Speaking of St. Augustine...I added to the St. Augustine features. First, a new page on the Castillo de San Marcos. A impressive fort that has stood the test of time, and a few attacks, since the late 1600's. It's very cool to tour and explore, one thing I didn't realize was that there is a shuttle ferry to Fort Matanzas from the park grounds. I guess it pr…

The second driver who passed away in the I-88 collapse was identified today. Patrick L. O'Connell, 55, of Libson, Maine was traveling westbound on I-88 when the tragedy occurred. His tractor and trailer have been located, but not recovered as the waters are still dangerous. Unfortunately, his body has yet to be retrieved.

My deepest sympathies go out to Mr. O'Connell's family and friends.

See: Oneonta Daily Star Article.
News 10 Syracuse Story.

Walton, NY Still Isolated

All roads within the town of Walton are closed and open only to emergency vehicles. The town which sits along the West Branch of the Delaware River was inunduated by nine feet of water. There is a curfew of 10 pm to 4:30 am within the town.

Personal Note: My company's locations in both Sidney and Walton escaped with very little damage and were open for business Friday.

The state has hired its emergency structural contractor, C.P. Ward of Rochester, to handle the project. The 150-foot gap in highway will be restored with the installation of a new culvert and rebuild of the terrain around it. The target is to have I-88 fully reopen by early fall, although no specific target date was announced. The state has announced a 7.5 mile detour utilizing NY 7 between Exits 9 and 10. According to the DOT, the detour takes about 20 minutes. NYSDOT will also be adding several temporary traffic signals on NY 7. To speed up the process, the project will be similar to a design-build process. The culvert will be prefabricated and installed on site, and construction is to also occur during night time hours.

See: http://www.eisinc.com/release/storiesh/NYSDOT.038.html

Commentary:

It will be interesting to see how quickly this project will be completed. Also, will they work to repair one section of I-88 to allow one lane traffic in each direction to cross, avoid…

The SC Infrastructure bank was very creative in how it awarded $174 million of the possible $300 million in road funds yesterday. As a result, most of the requested projects will receive some funding from the infrastructure bank.

First, the bank loaned $93 million to the South Carolina DOT to widen a deadly stretch of US 17. The loan is to cover the contracts for widening 5.5 miles of a 22 mile stretch of the deadly highway. The state has until September 1st to award the construction contracts. Since this is a loan, the $93 million does not go against the $300 million total. Note: The loan can extend up to $221 million.

Second, Horry County will receive $40 million of the requested $150 million towards right-of-way acquisition for the final phase of the Carolina Bays Parkway. (SC 707 to SC 544) The awarding of the $40 million is contingent on Horry County residents approving a once cent sales taxes for highway construction this fall.

Third, $99 million was awarded to Charleston …

With flood waters receding and NY 7 reopening, the state has announced the detour around the collapsed section of I-88 near Sidney.

Westbound: Exit 10 to NY 7 West to NY 8 South and back on I-88 West.
Eastbound: Exit 9 to NY 8 North onto NY 7 East to exit 10 on ramp.

There has been neither a timetable or an estimate to when I-88 will be repaired and reopened.