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since I'm already tweeting about infrastructure today, I figured it's time to do a thread on the stupidest ongoing infrastructure disaster in the city (in america??). That's right folks, we're talking about The Bathtub.
ok, well that's not that bad right, streets flood sometimes what's the big dea- oh. oh no.
So what is this thing? A depressed section of the Penn-Lincoln Parkway that runs parallel to the Monongahela River, separated from the wharf on the left by only a six foot wall. When the river rises more the 24 ft it breaks its banks and spills into this perfect trough.
"Owen, can't you just reroute traffic when it floods?" Hahahahahahhaha oh man. Let's take a look at what the Parkway connects.
This corridor connects anyone looking to enter the city from the suburbs to the north and south and Oakland, the second largest business district in the city, to the east. PennDOT estimates that 77,000 vehicles travel through this 1,900 ft passage east and west, EVERY DAY.
This section of highway was built back in the 50s when flooding in Pittsburgh was less severe. With the increasing march of climate change, the situation has only gotten worse. In 2005 the Bathtub flooded 3 times in 5 months. Last year it flooded at least three times as well.
So what do we do about it? Well we can't fix it, that's for sure! It's hard to find estimates on how much elevating the Bathtub would cost but the project would take years to finish and cripple one of the most vital arteries in the city.
In lieu of an actual solution to the problem, I have drafted some alternate proposals for Mayor @billpeduto and @CityPGH. First: Gondolas! You can't swim in the Mon if you don't want a third arm, but you can paddle it! Why not take a cue from Venice's less than pristine canals?
My second modest proposal: let that sucker freeze over and open another ice rink! The half-submerged F-150s will make a great obstacle course for the kids to test out their moves. @billpeduto for a small consulting fee I will help turn this urban eyesore into an attraction!
Thank you all for listening to the history of the Bathtub, if you want to find me, I'll be downtown this fall ferrying people across for the price of one gold coin.
this one's for @wtyppod
