The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

Talk About Tulsa => Other Tulsa Discussion => Topic started by: inteller on August 25, 2008, 04:54:17 PM

Title: State installs teleporter on the BA.
Post by: inteller on August 25, 2008, 04:54:17 PM
It's true!  If you stay in the left lane on westbound BA between the 15th st and lewis bridges you will be transported to another state where the roads are smooth and there are no potholes to swallow you up.  But unfortunately as quickly as you enter this altered world, you are transported back to the hell known as SH51.
Title: State installs teleporter on the BA.
Post by: Wrinkle on August 25, 2008, 05:04:23 PM
LOL! I drove that today and it definitely felt like another dimension.

Certainly, something we haven't seen around here in long, long time.

Title: State installs teleporter on the BA.
Post by: Rico on August 25, 2008, 05:07:08 PM
^

If you would like to see the Mothership make the journey around 2:30 a.m.

That's when they collect the others.

[}:)]
Title: State installs teleporter on the BA.
Post by: Townsend on August 25, 2008, 05:15:15 PM
I hate to sound gripey or negative but did you notice how thin that new layer of asphalt is?  Unless there's new "thin layer" asphalt technology it won't last very long.

Seems like a lot of work and money to have a smooth road for less than a year.
Title: State installs teleporter on the BA.
Post by: inteller on August 25, 2008, 05:36:20 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Townsend

I hate to sound gripey or negative but did you notice how thin that new layer of asphalt is?  Unless there's new "thin layer" asphalt technology it won't last very long.

Seems like a lot of work and money to have a smooth road for less than a year.



I question using asphalt on a major road like the BA at all, but I guess this was faster than ripping out and pouring new concrete (what should have been done).

I'll take what I can get though.  I guess all that money saved from not paying valid tort claims from that stretch of road allowed them to "fix" it.
Title: State installs teleporter on the BA.
Post by: jne on August 25, 2008, 06:32:36 PM
Yeah, I praised Jebus outloud as I drove over that this morn.
Title: State installs teleporter on the BA.
Post by: waterboy on August 25, 2008, 07:13:52 PM
There is concrete under the asphalt at least as it rounds the curve and passes over Lewis. The concrete gives it strength while the asphalt is smoother and easier to repair.
Title: State installs teleporter on the BA.
Post by: inteller on August 25, 2008, 07:36:17 PM
quote:
Originally posted by waterboy

There is concrete under the asphalt at least as it rounds the curve and passes over Lewis. The concrete gives it strength while the asphalt is smoother and easier to repair.


if this is true, then why not do this for that entire stretch of the BA into downtown and portions of the IDL?  That little strip makes it seem like it took an act of congress to get it approved and done.
Title: State installs teleporter on the BA.
Post by: Red Arrow on August 25, 2008, 08:10:05 PM
quote:
Originally posted by waterboy

There is concrete under the asphalt at least as it rounds the curve and passes over Lewis. The concrete gives it strength while the asphalt is smoother and easier to repair.



Concrete is a more stable surface and can be made smooth.  I agree that in Oklahoma concrete is usually not smooth.  I don't know why. Asphalt is relatively easy to rip up and replace as long as the concrete foundation is still good.   I have seen some Interstate roads where a thick layer of asphalt is used as a foundation for a concrete roadbed.

Any Civil Engineers out there that know the whole story?
Title: State installs teleporter on the BA.
Post by: Conan71 on August 25, 2008, 10:34:43 PM
They did a fantastic job, I did a double-take when I ventured up the 15th St. ramp this morning, they just mowed off the old surface last Thurs or Friday.  I finally got a chance to actually drive on the asphalt later in the day.

One other aspect to nighttime repairs is it's a lot cooler and I bet they get more productivity out of the workers at night.  

Title: State installs teleporter on the BA.
Post by: waterboy on August 26, 2008, 07:54:49 AM
quote:
Originally posted by inteller

quote:
Originally posted by waterboy

There is concrete under the asphalt at least as it rounds the curve and passes over Lewis. The concrete gives it strength while the asphalt is smoother and easier to repair.


if this is true, then why not do this for that entire stretch of the BA into downtown and portions of the IDL?  That little strip makes it seem like it took an act of congress to get it approved and done.



Well, it is true. I drove past while they were scraping off the asphalt, repairing the concrete then laying down the asphalt again. They may indeed plan to do the entire stretch eventually. My guess is that they are doing them in a way to least disrupt traffic flow by doing it in the evening and night hours.

Would you rather they did it like the old days when just before an election the entire BA would be slathered with asphalt which would then start to break up after the first freeze/thaw cycle?
Title: State installs teleporter on the BA.
Post by: Conan71 on August 26, 2008, 08:26:44 AM
I can't wait till they get the eastbound lanes done as well.  In case no one noticed, the part which is finished is the 15th St. bridge, the RR bridge and Lewis bridge!  Three at once, whoo hoo!