Wednesday, May 2, 2007

And the clock starts.

Finally traffic lights complete: It took 178 days
Your
Dollars
at Work
I am going to find out how long it will take the local authorities to install a functioning light located in front of the Miami Dade Water and Sewer Department on Le Jeune. I saw the sign being installed about three weeks ago, OK, let's say the sign was installed April 15th 2007. I will update the progress. Our tax dollars at work! One question I have is the timing of the light, if the light is timed incorrectly (which is unlikely by the city's highly educated traffic engineers) there would be a traffic jam on the north side of the light since the light is too close to the corner of South Dixie Highway and Le Jeune Road.
The sign is placed: "Your Dollars at Work" and the names of officials involved roll below like movie credits.



The light post base is dug, May 1st 2007


An Experience to Remember, May 15th 2007
Today, I watched as workers were lowering four traffic light posts into their respective concrete bases. It seemed almost like a religious experience, like witnessing history happen, untainted, and crisply in the presence and in super reality, not a painted representation, nor a work of a documentary film maker, nor one of the numerous scholarly versions written in the annals of history. It was happening in front of me, it was wonderful, enlightening, long live America.


Horizontal light post installed, June 30 2007
The post seems almost completed, the horizontal posts were affixed atop the previously installed poles, light fixtures have been attached to them on every corner, wiring is visible from the signal lights with their heads drooping down. They look as though they are sleeping and just need a signal from our city officials to wake them up.

Bingo
Yellow Lights blinking on Le Jeune, October 10 2007
Congratulations to all involved in installing the traffic lights on the intersection! It took the authorities and the contractors to get the lights completed in no more than 178 days. It is important to note that I will assume the work is done and complete, although the lights are currently working technically as a stop sign since the yellow lights on Le Jeune are blinking when intersecting streets have the red lights blinking. In addition there are temporary barricades and unfinished work at the base of the light poles. nevertheless congratulations to everyone involved in this monumental project! Therefore next time you complain about slow work on the streets of Miami then use this post as a benchmark for the progress.
178 days later the traffic lights start blinking yellow & red.