Sunday, December 12, 2010

Dirty Secret --- The Big Dig



























The day we arrived, 40 sunsets ago, crews started ripping up the north lanes of the main shore road here. But it's the start of the tourism season! That's like ripping up northbound Woodward during the Dream Cruise in Detroit. Or like ripping up northbound Yonge Street in Toronto during the Film Festival. Then the sidewalks were torn out too. With the rubble and machinery, all the shops and hotels on that side were suddenly out of business. And the sidewalks on the other side were suddenly (and still) jammed with all the mob, not just half of it.

Some locals said it would be finished in 2 weeks, or 2 months, or by April (what year?). But the construction defies logic as 5 small drain pipes are put in instead of 1 large one. And the area is graded over but then dug up again by pick and shovel, repeatedly. Connecting side streets have been torn up too. The result has been noisy traffic on formerly quiet side streets, and one-way streets becoming 3-way. What a culture clash --- tourists are shocked it's so slow, the locals shrug and say manana.




I was hoping I could post pictures of the job from start to finish, but I'd have to stay here til spring. Hmmmmm...







1 comment:

  1. Hey, have you walked down to hotel NaBalam? Is it the same or has it had "updates" done? How about some pictures.

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