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California is mercilessly mocked for 'world's most pointless crossing' high-speed rail bridge that cost $11 BILLION
DAILY MAIL ^ | 5 May 2024 | ISABELLE STANLEY

Posted on 05/05/2024 12:43:32 PM PDT by george76

The High Speed Rail Authority shared an update on the Fresno River Viaduct ..

They were widely mocked with Elon Musk and Billy Markus piling in ..

California has been mercilessly mocked for boasting about completing the 'world's most pointless crossing' to nowhere at a cost of $11billion.

The California High Speed Rail Authority shared an update on the Fresno River Viaduct in Madera County last week, proudly saying it was one of the 'first completed high-speed rail structures'.

The Tweet did not get the reaction officials were hoping for with Elon Musk and Dogecoin creator Billy Markus piling in to mock the project.

The Viaduct has taken nine years to build and has cost taxpayers $11 billion as part of the state's long-delayed, bullet-train plan attempting to link San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Commenting on photos showing the bridge stopping at only 1,600ft long with either end floating unconnected in the air, Markus tweeted: 'This is the most remarkable human achievement ever.'

Sharing the rail authority's tweet he added: '1600 feet of high speed rail after 9 years and 11 billion dollars it takes about 5 minutes to walk 1600 feet so a high speed rail for that is a really big deal.'

He added: 'Wow so impressive, can’t wait until year 2400 for this to finish for 700 quadrillion dollars.'

Musk then chimed in, adding a crying face emoji.

...

So far $11 billion of taxpayer money has been sunk into the scheme which aims to connect Los Angeles to San Francisco.

...

It will take an estimated $100 billion more to finish the project and link San Francisco to Los Angeles with many calling for the project to be scrapped.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; donatefreerepublic; highspeed; highspeedfail; highspeedrail; hsr; rail; williegreen
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To: Leaning Right

A Cessna 172 Skyhawk could operate off that “runway” (If surface is smooth and suitable) but more than a few have failed to clear obstacles with even more runway depending on loading, ambient temperature, wind conditions, etc. So safer to go with a STOL configuration and tundra tires in case you need to bounce off the terrain past the end of the runway a time or two.


101 posted on 05/05/2024 5:29:31 PM PDT by steve86 (Numquam accusatus, numquam ad curiam ibit, numquam ad carcerem™)
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To: Mastador1

San Joaquin River Viaduct...I was thinking that a viaduct had to pass over another road, but maybe not.

An aqueduct carries water; it’s not a bridge over water.
So I guess a viaduct “carries” a road.


102 posted on 05/05/2024 5:42:44 PM PDT by scrabblehack
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To: hole_n_one

That’s a very fast bridge.


103 posted on 05/05/2024 5:50:25 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (THE ISSUE IS NEVER THE ISSUE. THE REVOLUTION IS THE ISSUE.)
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To: Leaning Right

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qBj8YsyvhQ


104 posted on 05/05/2024 5:51:12 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (THE ISSUE IS NEVER THE ISSUE. THE REVOLUTION IS THE ISSUE.)
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To: hole_n_one

You forgot to add in the track, train. electricity, train stations, etc! Might as well just double your figure. 3,630,000,000,000.00


105 posted on 05/05/2024 5:52:35 PM PDT by US_MilitaryRules (#PureBlood )
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To: MeganC

I guess the people in California are really that stupid.


106 posted on 05/05/2024 6:02:18 PM PDT by wjcsux (On 3/14/1883 Karl Marx gave humanity his best gift, he died. )
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To: Willie Green

I miss you!


107 posted on 05/05/2024 6:03:31 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie (DEI = Didn't Earn It!)
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To: george76

108 posted on 05/05/2024 6:12:04 PM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
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To: jimtorr
I wonder where the $11 billion has really gone?

Sen. Dianne Feinstein's husband Richard Blum got contracts to build it - I hear their family own some really expensive mansions and resorts.

In San Francisco, money allocated for the high-speed rail downtown station was diverted into building an elevated park that runs several blocks - now they're begging for more money to build the downtown station which is a big hole in the ground.

Other money went into new stations, building overhead track elevated above intersections, and shifting existing diesel trains to electrified trains - much of which is incomplete or unused.

The same thing of shifting funds around is going on throughout the state. This system will take until the year 2400 to be completed!

109 posted on 05/05/2024 6:24:12 PM PDT by roadcat
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To: Saintgermain
LEFT COATS

Man your battle stations! Wait until you see the whites of their Nikes. The corrupt commie Left Coats are coming!

110 posted on 05/05/2024 6:34:35 PM PDT by Reeses
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To: Steely Tom

Has to be Jerry Brown. This whole rail nonsense started with him.


111 posted on 05/05/2024 6:45:24 PM PDT by Reverend Wright ( Everything touched by progressives, dies !)
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To: Leaning Right

It looks like a lot more sense was used building the tracks to the right of this boondoggle.


112 posted on 05/05/2024 7:32:57 PM PDT by Colorado Doug (Now I know how the Indians felt to be sold out for a few beads and trinkets)
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To: george76
California has a LING history of unfinished bridges to nowhere. The 680 / 280 interchange in San Jose sat like this for years before being completed and was mercilessly derided.


113 posted on 05/05/2024 9:34:43 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“When exposing a crime is treated like a crime, you are being ruled by criminals” – Edward Snowden)
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To: Leaning Right
No way THAT cost $11 billion dollars to make. At LEAST half of that money went to corruption and bribery
114 posted on 05/06/2024 3:13:29 AM PDT by CMS (I have not heard any politicians say how to take away guns from criminals, just law abiding citizens)
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To: Brian Griffin

1 Euro = 1.08 Dollar


115 posted on 05/06/2024 3:53:29 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Brian Griffin

1 kilometer ~ 5/8 mile


116 posted on 05/06/2024 3:54:02 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Brian Griffin

‘Tis obvious that concrete pourers have more clout than mere earth movers.


117 posted on 05/06/2024 3:55:11 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom
I'll bet that THESE guys never complained!!



118 posted on 05/06/2024 4:00:41 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

{California has a LING history}

This one’s history is now over...

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna24386784


119 posted on 05/06/2024 4:03:00 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: george76

Somewhere, someplace, Harpo Marx is asking, “Why a duck?”


120 posted on 05/06/2024 6:55:48 AM PDT by ops33 (SMSgt, USAF, Retired)
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