at the car-nerdiness - I do the same thing.
RBB wrote:
RBB wrote:I too am hopeful the the trees, once they mature, will help the looks of the corridor. But what do you think about this:
Yes, I know it's badly chopped. But would something like this be an improvement or just make things gaudier?
-RBB
ThreeOneFour wrote:^ You drive a Mazda6, right? I know this is pathetic and further proof that I spend waaaay too much time thinking about cars, but I could tell by the shape of the A-pillar and the vent on the top of the dash in one of your pictures. I've got a 2007 model and I'm pretty happy with it.
Anyway, thanks for snapping those photos. The optimist in me thinks this will all look better once those trees grow and those behind the walls are in bloom in a few weeks. The sealant on the sound walls helps, if only a little.
That said, I'd like to see how much of the budget that MoDOT could've trimmed away if they didn't build the extra lanes between I-170 and Spoede Road and therefore chose not to build sound walls either. I realize what's done is done, but whatever extra capacity was created will quickly fill up anyway, I can't imagine that nearby property owners' noise levels are that much lower, and a once pleasant looking highway now looks like every other concrete canyon in the area. (The road surface and ramps are a massive improvement though, and I suppose the latter improvement alone is worth it if we're talking about tradeoffs.)
I drive a 2004 6s with 80000+ miles, a rebuilt engine, and a new transmission! Looked at the pic and said to myself, "SELF, I said...THAT is a Mazda 6!ThreeOneFour wrote:^ You drive a Mazda6, right? I know this is pathetic and further proof that I spend waaaay too much time thinking about cars, but I could tell by the shape of the A-pillar and the vent on the top of the dash in one of your pictures.
Dude, besides sounding elitist, this spurs of self-fulfilling prophecy. Plus, it's a highway. What did you expect, water fountains and orchestrations? For the cost and the time constraints, I'm actually quite content with it, even if the current bare walls west of McKnight make me feel like I stepped onto a gray Tron stage. I'll take them if they come with open bridges and no potholes.UrbanPioneer wrote:I'm really glad that I rarely will have to drive on this stretch. It's absolutely hideous.
I'm sure it will look better in the spring/summer/fall, but only marginally. I know interstates aren't usually aesthetically appealing, but this is a bad one. Granted I'm only basing that off the pics I've seen because, like I said, I won't have to drive on it often and haven't yet. But when I do I doubt I will change my mind.
As your writings conveyed to me, I interpreted your words as that you are beyond the highway, which you proudly haven't seen in person but upon which you describe as "absolutely hideous", a very aloof way to talk about transportation infrastructure. In six short sentences, you said five times that you do not see it as aesthetically pleasing, and one time saying you've never seen it. I'd say your words sound elitist in the same way that I'd imagine a tony restaurant critic would describe Taco Bell, as less than pleasing; while such a critique may be founded in truth, it doesn't change the fact that Taco Bell does the job when you have 3 minutes for lunch and only $5.UrbanPioneer wrote:Sorry to be argumentative, but how exactly am I being elitist? Because I don't like how it looks? Or is it that I'm glad I don't have to drive on it? I don't get it, plenty of people said they don't like it, how is what I said any different?
Gone Corporate wrote:Dude, besides sounding elitist, this spurs of self-fulfilling prophecy. Plus, it's a highway. What did you expect, water fountains and orchestrations? For the cost and the time constraints, I'm actually quite content with it, even if the current bare walls west of McKnight make me feel like I stepped onto a gray Tron stage. I'll take them if they come with open bridges and no potholes.UrbanPioneer wrote:I'm really glad that I rarely will have to drive on this stretch. It's absolutely hideous.
I'm sure it will look better in the spring/summer/fall, but only marginally. I know interstates aren't usually aesthetically appealing, but this is a bad one. Granted I'm only basing that off the pics I've seen because, like I said, I won't have to drive on it often and haven't yet. But when I do I doubt I will change my mind.
DeBaliviere wrote:ThreeOneFour wrote:^ You drive a Mazda6, right? I know this is pathetic and further proof that I spend waaaay too much time thinking about cars, but I could tell by the shape of the A-pillar and the vent on the top of the dash in one of your pictures.
This really cracked me up!
Has anyone heard if phase II is ahead of schedule at all? I would be ecstatic if they could get things wrapped up a month or two early. I think I dealt with the closure last year pretty well, but my patience is starting to wear thin. I just want this project to be finished.
bonwich wrote:The walls are, indeed, ugly, but it struck me on one of my countless drives on that stretch that the overall impression will probably improve when the trees leaf out. Right now, all we've got is blank walls and bare trees.
bonwich wrote:The walls are, indeed, ugly, but it struck me on one of my countless drives on that stretch that the overall impression will probably improve when the trees leaf out. Right now, all we've got is blank walls and bare trees.
ThreeOneFour wrote:You may be right- and I hope you are. I drove on the stretch between Lindbergh and Brentwood boulevards this morning and noticed that the sealant is a lovely shade of...grey. Hoorah. Seriously, as much as I hate the sound walls in South County, even they look better than these.
DeBaliviere wrote:ThreeOneFour wrote:You may be right- and I hope you are. I drove on the stretch between Lindbergh and Brentwood boulevards this morning and noticed that the sealant is a lovely shade of...grey. Hoorah. Seriously, as much as I hate the sound walls in South County, even they look better than these.
It's too bad that there isn't a program like Arts in Transit for the highways. Creative people could do some really cool things to those boring sound walls.
Features also include an innovative 'art-n-Transit' public art exhibit along the newly built lines. The plan is to help provide a connection between neighborhoods and transit, adding value and cultural diversity to the transit system and the community as a whole. Officials hope the art will discourage vandalism and graffiti.
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