“None are so blind as those who will not see.”
So this wall isn't big enough for you?
Posted on 09/13/2019 5:45:23 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
“if Trump can get 400-500 miles built by Election Day”
That is going to be very effective wall system. put in places highest on the priority list - the most effective miles. It is going to really make an impact.
The border cities and the Rio Grande Valley are really where you get large masses of people crossing illegally. 300-400 miles of border account for well over 80% of current traffic.
Over 40% now crosses in the ~100 open miles of border in the Rio Grande Valley - which is currently funded for closure.
The first five contracts have been awarded down there, and the rest should drop quickly after the public comment period closes on 26 September.
The three biggest corridors for illegals have traditionally been the Rio Grande Valley, San Diego and Yuma. All three (and more) will be closed with the existing money. San Diego will be done in just a few more months (Jan).
The early stages of the program required a lot of careful analysis, preparation and legal work. We are really just now entering full scale deployment.
If the President gets enough new money identified next year (he is asking for $8.6 billion, $5 billion of that in direct appropriation), the Program is now capable of contracting many hundred additional miles before the end of 2020.
Potentially, the whole 1,100 miles from the comprehensive plan could be funded and on contract at the end of next year. That would be challenging, but is likely that at least some additional significant amount (like the Laredo area) will be added to the total we will end up with, during next year. President Trump is not done yet.
I am guessing that President Trump will come through with hundreds of additional miles worth of funding next year, for construction to continue through 2021, even if a Democrat wins the presidency in 2020. If so, we will have reasonably effective border wall, including all the hardest, most expensive and most effective parts.
The 10 year baseline budget includes about $1.4 billion per year for barrier (50-100 miles of premium quality), so it would tend to run on auto-pilot after that, even without President Trump’s strong leadership.
This year (2019), and the emergency declaration, was really the main battle in the war to build the wall, and President Trump won. Another year of winning like this, and the job will basically be accomplished.
“Please address the corrosive nature of hydroscopic concrete in direct contact with steel. Even Core 10 isn’t impervious.”
CORTEN steel is not impervious, but it is the best option - much better than the relatively poor choice of steel in the landing mat barriers, that lasted 30 years close to the marine environment in San Diego. The bollard steel is much heavier gauge as well - designed to stop speeding trucks.
The concrete encased inside the steel bollards has extremely limited ability to absorb new moisture, greatly limiting the effect.
Obviously, this bollard design will be significantly more durable to corrosion than the previous designs, like landing mat - even more so in arid desert.
Considering that they have had billions of dollars and decades to work on this problem, the likelihood that professional engineers have addressed corrosion considerations, is inescapable. It has been in the functional requirements and contract specs for border bollards for decades now. They have been proven in practice.
Don’t let references to “an estimated 20 year lifecycle” mislead you that this refers to the characteristics of the barrier. 20 years is just the standard of comparison for lifecycle costs on most Government projects. Just as costs for things in the budget that are intended to continue in perpetuity are evaluated over the the period of the ten year baseline budget, it is only a snapshot estimate for accounting purposes.
The see through capability enabled with bollard design is considered vital for effective operations - to detect, identify and deter.
“The wall it is replacing was put it less than 20 years ago.”
Well I hate to interrupt your whiney bitch session but those portions of the wall were either 1,2, or 3 strand barbwire fence, vehicle barriers (not pedestrian), or scrap metal turned into fencing.
Paul Ryan, is it you posting under an alias? Will you educate us on your favs like ‘compassionate conservatism’ or the New World Order and the Bush crime family ‘Thousand Points of Light’ plan?
Fascist Book. Not my claim.
Concrete needs maintenance too. Just saying
I was only making a point of where the critics are going with this. Whatever failure Trump has in building the border is the fault of Democrats, cheap labor Republicans and the courts.
You are delusional
Such a wall was never really in the concept. The president solicited propoosals for walls with solid engineering design
The current wall design was selected by those designated to serve as the jury to inspect and approve the various proposwals tendered.
No whining, not bitching, I’ve had my byline for about 4 years now.
Along with President Trump I’ve accepted that fact that we aren’t getting ‘a big beautiful wall’.
Not the pictures I’ve seen.
At one time those were real barriers, but no more.
We are getting what we are getting, and it’s much better than what was there , just don’t delude yourself into thinking it’s something permanent.
“The criticism I hear, is that he has only done 8 miles”
The latest report (by the Acting CBP Director), is that 65 miles are complete.
The pace is picking up quickly, and we are heading toward a rate of a mile per day sometime next year, as more crews are working simultaneously. So keeping up with the running total will be a challenge.
Beyond what is already finished, we have segments where construction is underway, others that have been contracted but not yet broken ground, and others that have been funded, but pending contract award.
The total finished, or in the pipeline, is now officially 529 miles (including the emergency funding, which the Supreme Court will probably have to rule on at some point).
The DoD retains a conservative surplus in the budget, before final contract prices are finalized. Likely, the $3.6 billion in Military Construction account funds will end up building a good 30 more miles, after prices are finalized.
Additionally, more money is likely in 2020.
Let the Left quibble about whether it is wall or fence, new or replacement. We are now off to the races, strongly fortifying our border.
Top of the line “wall system” (with roads, lights, cameras, sensors and alarms) are going in where it is needed most, and transforming conditions on the ground.
“None are so blind as those who will not see.”
So this wall isn't big enough for you?
You obviously weren’t listening when President Trump conceded to building something less than a beautiful wall.
Great reply and should be pointed out more often.
Not all of them we’re just barbed wire, a lot of them were substantial fence when they were installed.
I’m glad we have what we have, but you shouldn’t tell yourself that we have fix this problem on any other than a temporary basis.
This wall will easily fall to political pressure
Thanks for that. So will take some time, but progress is there....
Let’s see it done, then page her.
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