What If

Yesterday afternoon when delivering four lively fellas to the Rocks the awesome sight of the Harbour Bridge caused a momentary break in their revelry. At moments like this one can't help but consider how nearly eighty years ago our forefathers had the inspiration and vision to build such a structure.

One passenger then remarked, "You know what? If the the Bridge was being built today the bloody Premier would cancel it halfway through and say, 'Bugger that, the West is more important.'€

Another bloke chimed in, "If the Bridge was being built today the Treasurer would order that costs be cut by eliminating every second bolt."€

To which a third fella added, "Yeah, and if the Bridge was being built today it would only be half as wide - two lanes each way. Idiots."€

It was all very amusing as each rapid-fire comment lampooned our useless State Government, currently headed by new boy, Nathan Rees. This week he waxed lyrical about Sydney's chronic traffic congestion,

"[If] you think you are in traffic, you are in traffic. It's not a relative concept...It's like being in love. If you think you are in love, you are in love. If you think you are in traffic, you are in traffic."

Rather than try to understand this rubbish you may find it easier composing a witty sentence commencing with - If the Bridge was being built today...

UPDATE: Actually, could they even get a bridge started..? According to today's Telegraph,

TEN years after unveiling its bold transport plan for Sydney, the State Government has failed to build a single one of the five major rail projects it promised.

Hopeless.

Comments

[Rainer the cabbie]

If the Bridge was being built today
With state finances in a fray
It would be built from paper cardboard
Since that is all we can afford
Most of the budget would go in fee's
To bank accounts no one can see
The project being planned for years
With many consultants saying cheers
The Bridge would never get of the ground
And punts would be the coming rage
Good money as Billy Blue has found
And Water Taxi's have it made.

P.S. Considering when the Bridge was built, in the middle of the great depression, there is hope today that a new one might be constructed soon. All we have to do is get rid of the incumbent politicians and bring back Jack Lang.

[steve]

The bridge wouldn't be built today because it is on the site of 'secret women's business'

[Lost Legionnaire]

If the bridge was built today there wouldn't be enough time left in the century for the impact studies, worker agreements, immigration visa class creations for artisans,OH and S inspections of equipment and site, and myriad licenses, inductions and TAFE courses created.With support office staff of course, and matching public service clerks class 5. Hell,onsite there wouldn't be any blokes in thongs with a beer in one hand and a trowel or rivet in the other, wearing the obligatory terry towelling hat...ahh the good ol' days of building!

Enough bridges, current governments can't even organise a railway line let alone a reasonable supporting structure-A NSW Labor Bridge may just 'bend' just too much!

[Dataceptionist]

If the bridge was being built today...

They would drain the harbour of water to force everyone in boats to use the bridge too...
then make the dry land a no-standing zone...
and charge a $10 toll.

(been on holidays Adrian, pleased to catch up!)

[adrian]

Welcome back, DR, you haven't missed that much especially some variable weather. Looks like you guys had a great time in Europe. Some nice snaps you've posted, too.

[Jack]

If the bridge was being built today...

...

I can't answer because I honestly don't think such a visionary project the size of the SHB would *ever* be built these days.

The only way something like that would be built now is if it was outsourced to some private company and given 100 year rights to sell it back to us at exhorbitant rates. Was it really the case that governments had so much more money back then? The mind boggles.