Walmart Supercenter At 111 Yale St.

[SilverJK]

Traffic is slow because people are terrified of the BRIDGE OF DEATH!

[RedScare]

Edited September 18, 2012 by RedScare

[Ross]

Traffic is slow because people are terrified of the BRIDGE OF DEATH!

I've been wondering just how many 40 ton loads of stone came across that bridge since San Jacinto Stone opened for business.

[TGM]

Traffic is slow because people are terrified of the BRIDGE OF DEATH!

According to the wife traffic is slow in the Heights because everyone is stoned or something.

[fwki]

According to the wife traffic is slow in the Heights because everyone is stoned or something.

Ergo, the long-time moniker "Heightstonians" nails it.

[TGM]

Ergo, the long-time moniker "Heightstonians" nails it.

LOL. It's just the fact that people drive well below the speed limit, it's the fact that she deals with more stale green lights in the Heights than anywhere else. "Yo Bro, the lights been green for like 10 seconds!"

[RedScare]

I think it is because top speed for Volvos and Subarus is 23 mph. I understand the old farts creeping along, since they probably cannot see past the front bumper, but when perfectly healthy middle aged people creep along I want to pull them out and strangle them. 30 mph is not speeding, people!

[SilverJK]

you have to drive slow because you are in fear of running over one of the joggers. I've seen soo many joggers nearly get obliviated on yale and the bike path as well as Heights and 11th.

Red, after seeing your images I started thinking of a song revolving around Wal-mart, but decided not to... Wal-mart is a silly place.

[samagon]

I think it is because top speed for Volvos and Subarus is 23 mph. I understand the old farts creeping along, since they probably cannot see past the front bumper, but when perfectly healthy middle aged people creep along I want to pull them out and strangle them. 30 mph is not speeding, people!

I can assure you, this is a singular problem for those Subaru owners in the heights!

Not that I exceed the limit, I just don't know what the 'below' part of "at or below" means.

[TGM]

you have to drive slow because you are in fear of running over one of the joggers.

There is slow as in, "I'm sticking to the speed limit because this is a neighborhood and there could be kids darting out into the road", and there is slow as in, "dude, I think I hear sirens, wait, that's just the ambulance at the assisted living center"

[Angostura]

LOL. It's just the fact that people drive well below the speed limit, it's the fact that she deals with more stale green lights in the Heights than anywhere else. "Yo Bro, the lights been green for like 10 seconds!"

Speed limit on Heights is 35 mph. Speed of the median driver is below 30.

Speed limit on Yale is 30 mph. Speed of the median driver is above 40.

(...based on my unscientific observations.)

[TGM]

Speed limit on Heights is 35 mph. Speed of the median driver is below 30.

Speed limit on Yale is 30 mph. Speed of the median driver is above 40.

(...based on my unscientific observations.)

So people driving on Yale must be methheads.

[RedScare]

So people driving on Yale must be methheads.

Hence, the Walmart on Yale.

Don't know why some people thought this would not be a successful location.

[s3mh]

So much for the GPS systems on Walmart trucks that would keep them from going on the Yale St. bridge.

[RedScare]

Excellent. Looks like it will be opening soon.

[Marksmu]

So much for the GPS systems on Walmart trucks that would keep them from going on the Yale St. bridge.

How are we supposed to know that he used the bridge? He very easily could have just taken a left and then a right onto Heights and come back around....While it looks bad, this is not proof that the truck crossed the bridge...just saying - you have been known to manipulate the truth too many times for me to believe you.

Edited September 21, 2012 by Marksmu

[J008]

Seriously. Lets assume the picture is correct.

1. The no trucks signs are posted at the threshold of this light. So by continuing they are obviously disregarding the sign.

2. Why would someone drive past heights to take a left on yale to take a left back to heights, take two more rights and then cross yale in an 18 wheeler? It is absurd.

3. He is also running a red light.

How are we supposed to know that he used the bridge? He very easily could have just taken a left and then a right onto Heights and come back around....While it looks bad, this is not proof that the truck crossed the bridge...just saying - you have been known to manipulate the truth too many times for me to believe you.

[s3mh]

How are we supposed to know that he used the bridge? He very easily could have just taken a left and then a right onto Heights and come back around....While it looks bad, this is not proof that the truck crossed the bridge...just saying - you have been known to manipulate the truth too many times for me to believe you.

The pic was posted on the stop heights walmart facebook page. The person who posted it claimed that they saw the truck take the bridge.

And no, you cannot easily take a right on Heights and come back around. The turn from Heights to Koehler is almost impossible for an 18 wheeler because Koehler immediately bends to the north at Heights, increasing the amount of turn radius for 18 wheelers.

[Marksmu]

Seriously. Lets assume the picture is correct.

1. The no trucks signs are posted at the threshold of this light. So by continuing they are obviously disregarding the sign.

2. Why would someone drive past heights to take a left on yale to take a left back to heights, take two more rights and then cross yale in an 18 wheeler? It is absurd.

3. He is also running a red light.

I actually do assume the picture is correct, but I can think of any number of reasons that a truck driver could make that mistake...perhaps nobody would let him over in time turn - its not exactly a quiet intersection any more...maybe he did not see the sign until he was already stuck in the wrong lane, also easy to fix...There are a number of scenarios that the truck would still not have used the bridge on.

However, the light is red. He is screwed there.

[RedScare]

I think y'all should organize a 'bridge of death patrol' in order to catch these felons...well, misdemeanants...and alert the authorities. You could also escort those in wheelchairs across this treacherous bridge, direct school buses to safer crossings, and perhaps plant large trees in your spare time. Certainly, this would be a more valuable use of your time than complaining on internet forums. Mayor Parker may even recognize your organization at a city council meeting. I look forward to seeing the hallway moni, err, Yale Bridge of Death Monitors soon.

No need to thank me for the idea. It is just my way of helping out.

[RedScare]

By the way, the comments on that 'Stop The Heights Walmart' facebook page are pure comedic gold. Seinfeld was never as funny as these cats!

[JJxvi]

However, the light is red. He is screwed there.

He has probably been sitting there for a while (thus allowing time for some busybody to grab their phone while also sitting there for a green light) because at certains times of day the new light pattern is still really jacked up.

Edited September 21, 2012 by JJxvi

[JJxvi]

By the way, the comments on that 'Stop The Heights Walmart' facebook page are pure comedic gold. Seinfeld was never as funny as these cats!

I like the ones where the idea is floated that BLVD Place was feasible to build here just because "theres enough land!"

Edited September 21, 2012 by JJxvi

[fwki]

I think it is a photoshopped organic produce truck looking for Whole Foods. Hey, I heard on KTRH that Michael J. Fox was at Freeland green space rally today.

[s3mh]

By the way, the comments on that 'Stop The Heights Walmart' facebook page are pure comedic gold. Seinfeld was never as funny as these cats!

Yes, it is all funny when you completely ignore the consequences of exceeding the load on the bridge. Currently, money has been committed to fix the bridge. But it could take up to five years before the bridge is replaced. It will probably be at least a year before construction starts, probably closer to two or three years given the time needed to get the funding, bid out all the contracts and get everything rolling. If trucks continue to use the bridge, the structural integrity of the bridge could continue to decline to the point where officials will have no discretion but to close the bridge. It will take at least a year to complete construction of a new bridge, probably closer to two. If the bridge is closed before construction can start because truckers continually ignore the restriction, then we could be without the bridge for up to five years.

Of course, responsible people would have made sure that the bridge was adequate before allowing the construction of over 30 acres of strip malls and big boxes. But we are just some little backwater of a town that was too caught up in being picked to get a Walmart to make any rational decisions. Oh, no. Actually, we are one of the largest and most prosperous cities in the US and have no excuse for such an oversight.

[fwki]

Yes, it is all funny when you completely ignore the consequences of exceeding the load on the bridge................ one of the largest and most prosperous cities in the US and have no excuse for such an oversight.

Personally I think it is because its just a bunch of guys planning and pulling off this whole deal. Women would never think of all the action photos we hope to capture as truck after truck full of Chinese crap plunges into White Oak, hopefully after a line of T-busters gets that sucker really rolling. This is gonna be great.

[RedScare]

If they close the bridge, we get a new one sooner. Win win.

[RedScare]

The chicken little cries of bridge collapse armageddon are way overblown. Everyone knows that plastic crap from China doesn't weigh much. That's why it is so cheap. Those Walmart semis are not exceeding the weight limit because Chinese crap doesn't weigh enough. School buses with elementary school children on the other hand...

[Ross]

Yes, it is all funny when you completely ignore the consequences of exceeding the load on the bridge. Currently, money has been committed to fix the bridge. But it could take up to five years before the bridge is replaced. It will probably be at least a year before construction starts, probably closer to two or three years given the time needed to get the funding, bid out all the contracts and get everything rolling. If trucks continue to use the bridge, the structural integrity of the bridge could continue to decline to the point where officials will have no discretion but to close the bridge. It will take at least a year to complete construction of a new bridge, probably closer to two. If the bridge is closed before construction can start because truckers continually ignore the restriction, then we could be without the bridge for up to five years.

Of course, responsible people would have made sure that the bridge was adequate before allowing the construction of over 30 acres of strip malls and big boxes. But we are just some little backwater of a town that was too caught up in being picked to get a Walmart to make any rational decisions. Oh, no. Actually, we are one of the largest and most prosperous cities in the US and have no excuse for such an oversight.

How many 40 ton loads of stone went across that bridge in the last decade?

If the bridge is taken out of service early, we will get a new bridge sooner. However, I dont' think a truck every now and then is going to make the bridge fail.

I bet a new bridge could be inplace within 6 weeks after construction starts, given the right incentives.

[heights]

3. He is also running a red light.

One cannot conclude from the photograph that the driver ran the red light. Unless he crossed the stop line (or in the absence of a stop line he entered the crosswalk, or in the absence of a crosswalk he entered the intersection) after the light had turned red, there is no violation. There is a separate ordinance that prohibits entering the intersection unless you also have the space to clear it (so you won't be blocking the intersection for cross traffic if there is a traffic jam), but I believe that ordinance only applies in the central business district.

(Edit): I was incorrect about the blocking intersection ordinance as it applies city wide -->

Sec. 45-43. - Obstructing crosswalks and intersections.

The operator of a vehicle shall not cause the vehicle to enter a street intersection or a marked pedestrian crosswalk unless there is sufficient space for the operator's vehicle to pass through the intersection or crosswalk without obstructing other vehicular or pedestrian use of and passage through the intersection or crosswalk. The provisions of this section shall apply notwithstanding any traffic control signal indication to proceed into the intersection or crosswalk.

Edited September 22, 2012 by heights