Why Can't Work Be Done At Night?? (homes, construction)

[the_dimwit]

So, we decided to take a drive with the kids today, only it turned out that crews were painting stripes on 1604 just north of Culebra. On a Saturday. At noon. Am I the only one in our fair city who finds this silly?

See, some years ago a gentleman by the name of Thomas Edison invented this thing that glows in the dark. Believe it or not, this so-called "light bulb" can be used to illuminate things that would otherwise be hard to see in dark rooms or (gasp) outside at night. I believe some of us may have these "light bulbs" in our very own homes!

The question is, why can't simple work like painting lines be done at night? Today, the backup went from New Guilbeau (roughly) to 151. That's a long backup for something like drawing lines on pavement...

--Dim

[FCF's Wife]

Sounds like a question for that "TXHighway" guy.

[the_dimwit]

Yeah...I know. It's just so frustrating that work can't be done when there's less traffic. You'd think it would be safer for the workers. (Then again, with the number of drunk drivers around here, maybe not!)

--Dim

[FCF's Wife]

Assuming they needed daylight, maybe they could've completed the work during business hours (M-F). That would've been much more comfortable for a lot of folks as well.

[majormadmax]

Dim

I'm with ya! I had to go south on 1604 and saw the huge backup. I found another route to get back home when I returned. It does seem ridiculous that this isn't being done later in the evening, especially in an area notorious for traffic jams!

Speaking of Edison, there is an urban legend that his original light bulb is still working. I finally got around to looking into it, apparently it only lasted 40 hours...; but apparently there is a lightbulb made in 1901 that has been running nearly continuously since it was made (over a million hours), and it still works!

Actually, Edison didn't technically invent the first electric light bulb, but instead invented the first commercially practical incandescent light.

Cheers! M2

[dmmjsm]

They are doing some of the work at night. I live right off Culebra, and they love tearing the road up with giant loud machines at night.

[the_dimwit]

M2,

I heard about the million-hour bulb. Have never checked to see if it was true. Interesting story. (And I know the story about Edison, but it's easier to use him as ammo than someone else due to his name recognition.)

What I find amusing is that major metro areas (DC, for example) find it possible (and necessary) to do all kinds of roadwork (from painting to overpass construction) late at night. In fact, most (if not all) of the I-95/395/495 "Mixing Bowl" was constructed when traffic was at its lightest. I'm amazed that TXDOT finds it acceptable to close major roadways during peak traffic times (410 on a Saturday anyone?) for construction that would be better suited when traffic isn't as much of a factor.

Anyhoo, thanks for letting me rant. It felt good.

--Dim

[skeet09]

FYI, my dog's name is Edison in honor of the guy. Plus he's so smart!
Lightbulb courtesy of Museum of Science in Boston, MA during a trip to see Harvard with some of our kids in our program.

[majormadmax]

Skeet

That's cool, Edison was a bright guy!

Cheers! M2

[skeet09]

Originally Posted by majormadmax

Skeet

That's cool, Edison was a bright guy!

Cheers! M2

The students were wondering why I was taking a pic of the light bulb and I said I'll never know when I want to amaze someone with my travels. I guess this is that time!