The intersection is open!

Today was the big grand opening of the intersection of Garfield St. and Golf Course Rd. in Midland, Texas. If you recall, the pipes under the street that carried rain runoff had rusted after having done their jobs for 35 years, and a cavern grew under the intersection. A small hole in the street was discovered, and that exposed the problem. The intersection was barricaded, and a month long street project began with a coordinated effort involving the city of Midland, Key Enterprises, Inc., and James Hindman, Inc.

And a major effort was made today to try to get the intersection open by 4:00 pm. Asphalt was laid, but the temperature was too cold for some of it to cure properly. So steel plates were laid on a problem area, and one lane remains closed.

I would have liked a ribbon cutting, but it was more like a synchronized movement of city vehicles to unblock the streets when the intersection finally opened.

Ever wonder how those white arrows and lane markings get stuck to the street? They come in pre-cut sections, and they are melted onto the street with torches reaching temperatures of 450 degrees.  Here are some photos.

The first car to travel through the intersection legally in almost a month came through at about 5:40 pm today. You can see it in the last photo -- a silver Camaro.

Comments

[Jeff]

Good coverage, good wrap. Well done, George.

[Geo]

Thanks Jeff. I think everyone is glad it's all over, but in a way, I miss all the commotion.

[MSigler]

There were about 5 city workers gathered around a new hole at that intersection about two weeks ago and they looked more than a little baffled. I haven't seen anyone since though so I assume there wasn't a major problem.

[Geo]

MSigler, there was a spot that didn't cure properly the first time, so they covered it with a plate and redid it a few weeks later.

Then apparently another soft spot developed. So they plated that one and repaired it a few days later. All in all, it took a long time to get the intersection completely repaired.

One thing the city engineer said was that there are other intersections around town that will eventually develop the same problem.

So anyone who didn't get enough of this detour will have new ones to look forward to.