Art and his buddy, Morris have been fascinated by the elevated rail construction on Oahu. It has been pretty much a financial disaster, mired in all kinds of (political?) mismanagement. As it stands now, the rail construction will not be as helpful as hoped since it's run out of money and cannot go the distance it planned.
Whatever the case, Art and Morris talked about going out just to see the progress that was being made at night.
Art wasn't sure Morris was serious until one night he called Art and said, "Let's go!"
I could not suppress the chuckle that leaked out of me.
"Do you want to come along?" Art asked.
"Is Jane going?" I asked. I wondered if Morris' wife was willing to go out on this madcap adventure.
"No," said Art, "But you can come, if you like."
Did I go?
No. I felt it was more like a Boys Night Out.
Art came home excited with an iPhone full of construction photos.
He told me they were NOT the only ones out there watching the construction crew. Apparently there were other fellows also out there watching the big cranes and trucks.
They may all be seniors on the outside, but they are still little boys on the inside.
You know what?
If they go again... I think I'll go too.
Art wasn't sure Morris was serious until one night he called Art and said, "Let's go!"
I could not suppress the chuckle that leaked out of me.
"Do you want to come along?" Art asked.
"Is Jane going?" I asked. I wondered if Morris' wife was willing to go out on this madcap adventure.
"No," said Art, "But you can come, if you like."
Did I go?
No. I felt it was more like a Boys Night Out.
Art came home excited with an iPhone full of construction photos.
He told me they were NOT the only ones out there watching the construction crew. Apparently there were other fellows also out there watching the big cranes and trucks.
They may all be seniors on the outside, but they are still little boys on the inside.
You know what?
If they go again... I think I'll go too.
I remember Miami built a monorail that didn't do well at the time. You would think they would do studies and plan better. Nice photos!
ReplyDeleteThat is quite a project. I can see the appeal.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right: we are all kids at heart. It does look like someday it will be finished, or partly so at any rate. :-)
ReplyDeleteha ha,, boys at heart for sure,,big job!
ReplyDeleteI agree. What fun.
ReplyDeletesounds fun even for little girls...lol!
ReplyDeleteSometimes it doesn't take much to entertain us!
ReplyDeleteMaybe they can cancel the project as an elevated rail and turn it into a senior guy attraction. Charge a buck here and there and at least make money instead of losing. Think you ought to go along also if only to watch the "boys" having a wonderful time.
ReplyDeleteYou should definitely go!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI would find it boring, but that's just me
ReplyDeleteMassive construction fascinates me, too. I've been known to sneak onto yards on weekend days to photograph the progress and the machines.
ReplyDeleteLittle boys and their toys, or watching and enjoying others' play.
ReplyDeleteThe rail is such an expensive experiment. Will people ride it? How much will the fare be? How ugly can it be?
At least it is moving along faster than the H-3 that connected Kaneohe to Halawa. That took over 30 years! It went WAY over budget. However, when it was finally completed, it was wonderful and beautiful. It relieved traffic for the Windward folks.
Hawaii construction gets mired in Hawaiian slowness. Someone once said that it is like walking in jello. Many times, our city planners and politicians get it arse backwards. When planning the new communities out in the boonies such as Kapolei, rail should have come first, then build the communities around the hubs.
I can understand visiting a construction site but at night? Oh well I guess there's lots of light if they're working at night.
ReplyDeleteI watch rail construction enough as I'm mired in west bound traffic. With all this hate towards rail I always wonder if the H1 could've been built today with all the homes that were condemned to make room for it, and I remember that being built. Hoo the protest that would ensue as I look at all the properties and homes it took away. Rail has become a galvanizing icon that mostly everyone can hate and lump all their frustrations on the politicians and everything else wrong w/ Oahu today. I have been stuck enough in horrendous traffic, i.e. the Aiea bridge damage, carmaggdeon that it took me 8 hours to get home - yes 8 hours, 6 hours stuck in Kalihi - not to mention rush hour traffic when I worked. No, enough for us west siders, we need rail and hopefully I can ride it when I have to give up my car due to health. BB
ReplyDeleteThe same kind of construction has been going on near us too, as the elevated portion of the light rail system is creeping southward from the airport station. the new extension will provide much needed parking. We recently used the northern extension to get to out medical center,and of course we use the original light rail section to get to the stadiums and downtown. Ours is working very well.
ReplyDeleteUnlike Art, we have not gone out to watch the construction, but we see the progress every time we drive under it to Jill's house.
I went with Ron almost every day to watch to new bridge go up. It was fascinating and enjoyable and I recommend you go next time.
ReplyDeleteYou can bring lawn chairs and a small table with snacks!
ReplyDeleteIt's a familiar story: 'a financial disaster, mired in all kinds of (political?) mismanagement'
ReplyDeleteand one heard across this continent!
Sure you have to go next time, Kay! It's not just a guy thing. It was so exciting for me to watch Jerusalem's light rail and then the tram's Calatrava bridge being built, day and night. I photographed (and blogged) the workers and the huge machines year after year with great admiration. It makes you feel a part of it all. On the night the light rail bridge was inaugurated I even stood there under it and cried a few tears like of a mother giving birth after a long pregnancy.
ReplyDelete