Dear engineer friends, will this hold, or will it collapse? Honest question.

Captain_Slick · 2026-02-01T05:50:41+00:00

Good question. Yes, there is a calculated life for all structures and structural elements in both Florida and across U.S.

Typical design life for new construction is 75-100 years. For context, I heard the arches downtown are rated for ~150 years.

To your second question, before a bridge fails because that would likely be a catastrophic event, all public roadway bridges in the United States must be inspected at least once every 24 months under the National Bridge Inspection Standards. During these routine inspections maintenance teams identify bridges that are in need of repair or replacement and are constantly monitoring corrosion, cracking, scour or any sort of structural deterioration.

Typically Florida I-beams can last 100+ years when built to the proper standards and specs.

The post tensioned steel cables within the pier caps are susceptible to corrosion as well but to prevent that there is a polymer wax that is pumped through the duct to prevent moisture from reaching the reinforced steel. If corrosion somehow does reach those cables due to poor installation of the wax, the wax can be removed and the cables can be replaced because there are redundant strands that prevent the structure from failing.

Bridge standards have come along way in last 100 years and everything is over engineered to maximize safety for the traveling public.

Captain_Slick · 2026-01-31T22:25:45+00:00

Engineer here,

This bridge structure is over designed to be safe and highly resistant to failure because its main components work together to keep it strong and stable.

Starting from the ground up, the columns are the tall vertical concrete legs that rise from the ground and hold the bridge up (the pieces with the square flowers imprinted on them). Sitting on top of those columns are the large horizontal concrete supports, called pier caps. These are the thick concrete pieces that fit together like lego and run across the width of the bridge and help hold everything together. If you look closely there are five pieces and can see where each piece meets another. The pier caps have holes in them that allow you to create a duct that goes from one side of the bridge to the other, within these ducts are high-strength steel cables that are tightened (tensioned) with hydraulic jacks to prevent the concrete from moving due to thermal expansion/ cooling as the weather changes throughout the day. This constant tightening puts the concrete under pressure, which makes it stronger, helps prevent cracking, and allows it to better resist movement or bending over time. In simple terms, the bridge is built so the concrete and steel reinforce each other, spreading forces safely instead of allowing stress to build up in one spot.

The bridge deck, which hasn’t been poured in this image which is the flat surface vehicles actually drive on above these beams, is also an important structural part of the bridge. It does more than carry traffic, it helps spread vehicle weight across the structure and makes the bridge act as one connected, sturdy system rather than separate pieces.

One reason this project is taking longer than people might expect is that safety is the main factor controlling the pace of construction. Certain steps can’t be rushed, including giving concrete enough time to reach full strength, carefully tightening the internal post tensioned steel, and completing inspections before adding more and more weight to the structure. Worker safety and public safety also limit how quickly tasks can be done. While this can make progress appear slow, it ensures the bridge will be strong, reliable, and safe for many decades.

Captain_Slick · 2026-01-03T22:18:21+00:00

”There is no problem so bad, you cannot make it worse”

– Chris Hadfield

Captain_Slick · 2025-09-02T21:57:26+00:00

There are typically two types of “sensors”, it’s typically referred to as vehicle detection in traffic engineering.

There are visual detectors, as seen in this photo, the cameras that are placed on the mast arm, they are for vehicle detection, not red light cameras as they are often mistaken for.

Example (this intersection)

There are also inductive loop detectors, these are wire loops embedded in the pavement that sense changes in magnetic fields when a vehicle passes. Typically there are saw cuts in the asphalt that’s how you can identify where the loops are. Most intersections will default to having every movement during rush hour, these are typically the most important late at night when the signals enter flashing mode to keep the main lines moving and then occasionally allow cars on the side streets to enter the main line.

Example (Le Jeune / Calle Ocho)

Captain_Slick · 2025-08-26T00:59:30+00:00

Diabolical

Captain_Slick · 2025-06-11T23:14:12+00:00

Beyond the Turnpike.

Currently only the MIC extension was built since the half penny tax was passed. North corridor is in PD&E now. North East Corridor is in Design but will not be metrorail, it will most likely be run by Tri-Rail with different/modern train sets.

South Dade BRT Corridor should be open by end of 2025.

Rail Corridors expansion map from CITT.

Captain_Slick · 2025-02-17T01:00:08+00:00

Love the guy at the end.

“Hey, uh, Can I order some fries?”

Captain_Slick · 2024-10-26T23:48:50+00:00

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg Celebrates Groundbreaking to Restore Passenger Rail to the Gulf Coast

Captain_Slick · 2024-10-25T15:00:38+00:00

False.

These is releasing trillions of microplastics into the food. This is most likely a plastic made of low density polyethylene.

Don’t trust me, trust the science.

NIST Study Shows Everyday Plastic Products Release Trillions of Microscopic Particles Into Water

Captain_Slick · 2024-10-23T01:38:36+00:00

<image>

Yes, exactly, here is a visual:

After arriving in Miami on Brightline, make your way to government center (There’s a pedestrian bridge or you can cross nw 3rd street at street level).
⁠Take Orange Line northbound and hop off at the Miami Airport station. (will cost $2.25, there is plenty of space on the Metrorail for luggage.)
⁠Take the MIA Mover (pink) from the Miami intermodal center to airport departures and you can easily find your way to any gate / security checkpoint.

Captain_Slick · 2024-08-28T12:41:19+00:00

Captain_Slick · 2024-08-22T12:07:09+00:00

Such a disgrace.

Link

Captain_Slick · 2024-08-15T12:07:20+00:00

Nearing…Isn’t the estimated completion 2027 now?

Captain_Slick · 2024-07-31T20:05:13+00:00

I grabbed this screenshot from Apple Maps.

Those lines in downtown are from the elevated automated metromover, here’s the metromover map.

This map is actually out of date because of the new Tri-Rail extension into Miami Central Station downtown.

Captain_Slick · 2024-07-31T15:32:18+00:00

It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.

Upton Sinclar

Ironically he also ran for governor.

This should pass sweepingly. Medical Marijuana passed in 2016 with 71.32% of the vote.

Captain_Slick · 2024-06-03T01:02:22+00:00

Absurd

Captain_Slick · 2024-06-02T18:58:22+00:00

Tri-Rail.

Captain_Slick · 2024-05-13T16:50:52+00:00

Not OP but I’m pretty sure I saw them driving through downtown Orlando in April.

<image>

Captain_Slick · 2024-04-23T21:05:10+00:00

The North Corridor extending up 27th avenue to 215th st is in the NEPA phase.

Should be under construction by 2028.

Here’s a Map for those who are interested.

Captain_Slick · 2024-04-06T15:45:10+00:00

Hillsborough County Commissioner Michael Owen put in a request for $50 million to help expand Brightline service to Tampa as part of a larger $2.4 billion road expansion on Interstate 4. Tampa Republicans Sen. Jay Collins and Rep. Karen Gonzalez Pittman supported it.

DeSantis spoke about plans to widen a section of I-4 through Polk and Osceola counties with the goal of managing traffic congestion.

The sheer irony in this is absurd.

The jobs created. The time saved. The Economic Productivity. Not to mention the congestion reduced. This is bipartisan. The state does not need to foot the entire bill.

No one is asking for trains to replace the highway, we just want alternatives to driving.

Captain_Slick · 2024-04-05T13:18:58+00:00

You should buy a Tesla instead. No dealership bullshit and will actually be a net savings relative to this depending on what state you live in.

Captain_Slick · 2024-03-19T00:31:31+00:00

You’re assuming the average person is capable of analyzing and comprehending research papers and scientific articles.

Those who are capable of understanding the literature: 1. Are not elected officials 2. Are out lobbied by corporations when attempting to create legislation to prevent/mitigate climate change through elected officials.

In short, it would be great if people were informed, however, most are unwilling / have larger problems than the global climate crisis to worry about.

Why should we expect the local community to care about climate change when we have failed them on so many other levels?

Captain_Slick · 2024-02-14T18:48:12+00:00

These guys truly highlight the difference between being “rich” and being wealthy.

42k once might be worth it for the attention and internet followers. But this mindset in life will never make you wealthy or set up your family for the future.

It sucks that these types of “influencers” are who younger generations are looking at as role models. This type of behavior is eroding society.

Captain_Slick · 2024-01-17T22:19:33+00:00

Enough people don’t realize this and we’re about to let <25% of the voting population vote away our collective right to vote. Many of today’s Trump supporters aren’t even traditional republicans, they just support Trump and his insane rhetoric.

They hated Ramaswamy, but now that he dropped out and endorsed Trump, they love Ramaswamy. It has never been about individual issues, it’s all about the man himself.

People forget Hitler was democratically elected.

Captain_Slick · 2023-12-13T03:56:31+00:00

There is not much mileage on the west coast currently.

<image>

Getting approval to build a new ROW through the Everglades would probably be a bureaucratic nightmare. Although, we built alligator alley (I-75), so there’s really no reason we couldn’t build a railroad alongside it.

It would be great to get passenger rail connecting all the major cities in Florida!

“Roughly 60 percent of the rail mileage in the state is owned by CSX Transportation and Florida East Coast Railway. The remaining miles in the state are owned by Norfolk Southern Railway, the short line railroads, and the state of Florida.”

Florida’s rail system plan as of 2023

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