Crumbling municipal infrastructure has long been a concern but a recent bridge collapse in Minnesota has brought the issue to the front pages. While several people perished south of the border the true capital of civic decay is Montreal.
Chunks of overpass kill unwary motorists, 9 bridges are closed to truck traffic, tens of thousands of crater-like potholes make our roadways resemble those of Kabul and an impending massive, downtown sinkhole recently shut down the subway and many businesses. Oh yeah....there's also the Olympic Stadium, a cavernous, cretinous, mausoleum that, while not part of our infrastructure, does shed chunks of concrete and stands as a monument to all that is wrong with the standards and practices of our construction industry.
At the epicentre of the mid-city trouble is Christ Church Cathedral, a marvelous edifice (Sometimes home to the soon-to-be-world-famous Griffon Brass Band) and oasis amidst the hustle and bustle. Some years ago it was propped up on stilts while land was excavated from beneath it to make way for a huge mall, part of Montreal's Underground city. Today it perches perilously as we wait to see if engineers can prevent it from actually becoming part of the subterranean scenery. While I firmly believe that the underworld could use a little more old time religion and a lot more brass band music this may not be the best way of going about it.
Speaking of underworld, Montreal has an illustrious history of handing out building contracts to the lowest bidder who usually happens to be a city councillor's cousin who has affiliations with guys named Cotroni or Rizzuto.(google them) Is the fondness for structures using massive amounts of cement just a coincidence?? (and might I add at this juncture that I in no way wish to cast aspersions upon the Italians who are a beautiful and vibrant people)
What we end up with are shoddily built roadways made of materials of questionabl
e quality by guys who by and large don't know their butt crack from a bucket of tar. (see photo)
e quality by guys who by and large don't know their butt crack from a bucket of tar. (see photo) We are one of the highest taxed groups of people in North America but what really makes us distinct is our veal-like passivity in the face of corrupt and inept authority. Vive la difference!!
3 comments:
Thanks, Blob, for bringing up one of my "sujets fétiches" as we are prone to say in the land of poutine.
The various bipeds who are responsible for our infrastuctural woes should be hung up my their balls!
I know that doesn't sound very bear-like, but don't forget the title of my second album was "The Revenge of Party Bear". You can't entirely rid yourself of the effects of a lifetime of fire and brimstone sermons with just a few dinner parties and a lot of Gin Martinis!
I couldn't agree with you more, Blob. Seriously, I can't understand why the corruption isn't all over the front page! Maybe if the whole underground city collapses, something will be done about it, but odds are, not until then.
Mama C, Party bear,
It's great to see 2 people who agree with each other agreeing with me!! If only Mikexxster could stop being such a contrarian and get on board the Blob train. (it's bound for glory you know)
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