COTA Austin - construction and infrastructure

[xpensive]

Great image richards, it's really heartwarming to learn that you have an affection for our traditional Swedish woods, while for me it's national-romantic no end.

But when I xamine the picture closer, I'm pretty certain that the rally-road was far better built than the hickabilly-trail down there in Austin?

[xpensive]

...
This little stretch of road was already planned to be widened,
...

Isn't it funny that just about everything around this Austin project is "planned", it just hasn't happened yet I guess?

Xactly like trying to manage an american design-engineering department, everything you ask for is "in the pipeline", or "check is in the mail or "I'm putting the last hand on it right now". And if nothing else works, "not in my job description".

[hairy_scotsman]

That of course is all conjecture and hyperbole because we don't know what they are planning to do for access, and they do have 10 months to lay just 1 mile of tarmac.

...and a brand new 4-lane bridge to replace the old 2-lane one in that section of road.

[hairy_scotsman]

That image of the Austin-track's "access road" is so unbelievably and amusingly hicky, with it's crooked direction and level, crooked telephone poles, pick-up trucks and scruffy surroundings, where MrE is supposed to travel with his entourage.

Let's take it once again just for the hell of it, just for laughs!

http://www.statesman.com/sports/formula ... 91924.html

It wasn't built that way. It just wasn't built in a way that accounted for the shifting soil. There are no roads like this in Europe? Never mind. I know the answer to that. I've driven them.

[Pup]

That of course is all conjecture and hyperbole because we don't know what they are planning to do for access, and they do have 10 months to lay just 1 mile of tarmac.

...and a brand new 4-lane bridge to replace the old 2-lane one in that section of road.

I can get you a bridge that size by 3 o'clock this afternoon. With nail polish.

[hairy_scotsman]

I smell a bit of opportunism here (from multiple sources). This little stretch of road was already planned to be widened, most of it has already been done, and the land to complete the job was purchased years ago. But the work was stopped when the county found out that the circuit was being built, supposedly because of "heavy traffic", but if you take a look on google maps at the sections they've completed, it seems obvious that the road is amply designed for anything the circuit would add. They gave the road a major off ramp from the highway, so it's not like they were building it for a little farm traffic. No, it seems obvious to me that the county is holding up the road to get the circuit to pay for the work for them. In fact, the article states that the county wants COTA to pay for more than half of the work - for a project that they'd already budgeted! Hell, I'd tell them to go stick it, too.

I believe this is all correct, except iirc the county had already planned to renovate the road, but not to expand it.

I'm not saying COTA's position is wrong here. This road should have been repaired long ago, like many other roads in SE Travis County. It's just that COTA shouldn't let a quibble such as this hold them back for months. This stretch of road IS an important piece of the puzzle that, if not remedied, could cause major disruptions.

Actually, since the off ramp from the highway for that entrance (the secondary entrance, btw - I got suspicious the moment it got promoted to "one of the main entrances") is but a single lane wide, I'm not sure what the absolute need is to widen the road. Just keep one lane as one way traffic into the circuit and keep the other open for emergency traffic.

There will only be a handfull of access points to the facility, and this is a main one. It's probably the 2nd most important (to the main entrance on FM 812), as Circuit of the Americas Blvd runs north from FM 812 through the property and exits onto Elroy Road. From there it's a very quick, short run back over to the onramp for SH130, or north on McAngus to Pearce Lane and its SH130 onramp or on to SH71.

[hairy_scotsman]

That of course is all conjecture and hyperbole because we don't know what they are planning to do for access, and they do have 10 months to lay just 1 mile of tarmac.

...and a brand new 4-lane bridge to replace the old 2-lane one in that section of road.

I can get you a bridge that size by 3 o'clock this afternoon. With nail polish.

Well, then you might be able to make a little money this November.

I think long-term they're thinking of something a little more permanent.


BTW, what's the nail polish for?

[Richard]

As a temp fix they just need to adopt tidal flows so they only need a 2 lane road, then plonk some 100 DPM and 50 HRA on the existing stuff.

Emergency access can be on a temp road on mats alongside the old road, or if they have more time they could lay some DMRB Type 1 sub-base. You can run construction traffic on that stuff for months, so an ambulance or fire tender isn't going to cause problems.

Not sure about the nail polish, does x know what shade is preferred by obese Americans?

[hairy_scotsman]

Sounds like Hairy is the one losing faith.

Of course I'll admit that recent events have changed my perspective a bit. Still hoping with fingers crossed, however, for a good outcome. (ETA: I am friends or acquaintances with many F1 fans here in Austin, having been brought together with them by this process. I have to say many of us are feeling the same, to one degree or another). Maybe they'll get out of their own way long enough to get it right.

I can't post here everything I'm aware of, good or bad. That's probably for the best, though.

[xpensive]

...
You should definitely come to the race then. You'll have no trouble whatever assimilating in Hicksville...and no, those mailboxes aren't associated with mobile homes. There are a few houses along that stretch, all on fairly large plots of land.

[...] As a die-hard americanophile, I will be there at the next US Grand Prix as sure as the sun comes up, I just don't think it's gonna happen in that particular environment.

[Mr Alcatraz]

In Japan ya had to use mass transit to get to the track.,,also Canada I believe.
In Fact,,,I don't think there is an F1 track that easy ingress and egress

It is sometimes overlooked by us Americans, and others that we work really well with "out in the middle of nowhere" shi+, especially Texas!
Ya’wl boys should be worrying a little more about vacation plans, ‘cause I’m already here.

[xpensive]

In Japan ya had to use mass transit to get to the track.,,also Canada I believe.
In Fact,,,I don't think there is an F1 track that easy ingress and egress

Soo american, to see public transportation like train or subway as something negative, you rather sit in a line for three hours, then go around that maze of a parking-lot for another, as long as you can do it in the confinement of your own vehicle?

The Montreal subway-sevice to the track is simply xcellent.

[FW17]

So what facts are missing?

The fact that you think Red is a major investor.

He is according to sources quoted in this thread including F1technical.

http://www.f1technical.net/news/15205

Something more recent http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111113/F1/111119950

[hairy_scotsman]

Statesman.com: Work moving along...

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/ ... ula_austin

[WhiteBlue]

Something more recent http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111113/F1/111119950

So what? McCombs is still one of the biggest investors. Nobody denied that Epstein is the lead investor. And this is the main reason why the project is in trouble. The guy is acting like a moron.