Author: SPY

Route 441 bypass – the latest

The latest on the project >> Crews are expected to begin pouring the bridge deck this week. When the deck is finished, crews will begin placing and grading the subbase for the new route. Paving is scheduled for early to mid-September.

While crews are doing the grading, drivers will see barrier removal, shoulder restoration and guiderail work on Route 30 between the river bridge and the Columbia exit. The crew hopes to be off of Route 30 by September so that a milling and paving project on Route 30 — being done by Pennsy Supply Inc. — can be finished.

Chronology of a disaster waiting to happen

June 13: This is when the trouble began.  Two workers removed part of the facing at 208-210 Locust Street to inspect a support beam, and in doing so weakened the structure, thus precipitating a visit from emergency services and Belfor Property Restorations. The area was subsequently cordoned off and the facade reinforced. This is when the issue came into widespread public attention.
At the time, no one thought to close this open attic window, where rainwater had entered routinely, in the process potentially weakening the structure and causing a wall to bulge.  The window had been open for months (years?), and is still open even now.
Bricks near the peak have fallen out.
Creeping incrementalism: The structure continues to settle, and bricks continue to fall. The first photo in this series, dated July 19, was taken over a month after emergency personnel had responded to the scene and the facade had been reinforced inside by Belfor Property Restorations. Since then, the building continues to crumble, even as Flagger Force workers sit it out on the 200 block of Locust and town officials sleep soundly in their beds.  Why is there no sense of urgency?

Hit and run near 2nd & Walnut

A hit and run vehicle accident occurred shortly after 7 p.m. today near North Second and Walnut Streets.  According to witnesses, a pickup truck heading southeast on Second sideswiped the Ford van and BRP three-wheeler pictured below when it turned northeast onto Walnut.  The driver of the pickup then sped away.  Witnesses describe the pickup as a black “beat-up” work truck that was driven by a shirtless white male.

Flagger Force takes over Locust

As of four o’clock this afternoon, Columbia Fire Police handed over responsibility for traffic control on the 200 block of Locust Street to Flagger Force personnel. Fire police had been on duty since last night, directing traffic away from the area of 208-210 Locust, which had once again shown signs of movement when bricks fell from the facade onto the sidewalk. Flagger Force will be on duty there at least until this coming Monday. The cost will be relayed to the property owner.