any bypass news?

They're beginning phase 2 (of 3) now...which iirc is intersections, signalling and access points. Phase 3 is the final paving. Don't hold your breath...they had been working on the project for 35 years by the time they broke ground.

I cannot wait for it to open, though. The pressure on the historic parts of c'sted is immense.

Thanks so much for the update! It's encouraging to know that they're actively working on it, and I, too can't wait.

Lisa

it would have been nice if it had been finished in time for the d r parade and the st patricks day parade

what year?

LOL, I thought almost exactly the same thing - there's always next year!!

They projected 2011 at the start...
...but they also said this current phase (just getting under way) would begin last august.

so I'm guessing they didn't just dig a tunnel because it would require off island contractors?

So far all the heavy contractors have been "off-island" companies. There is currently a local civil engineer examining the cut sides for stability.

As for tunneling, the boston big dig was collapsing about the time the project was getting under way, so that may be part of it. Seriously, given our proximity to faults and massive seismic activity, I'm feeling very good about the decision to cut away the hillsides.

rks I mean no disrespect but are you familiar with the term "angle of repose"?

IMO that cut will never be used for more than brief periods between very extensive shoring efforts. mountains fall downover time all by themselves - add a serious quake and that mountain will colapsce and bury the road east for years and years..

my 2 cents - your mileage may very 😉

Yes I'm familiar with 'angles of repose', and I agree that the cuts look dramatic. But the cuts for the bypass are consistent with the successful road cuts elsewhere on the island. I also agree that we can expect minor sloughing and possibly a few more slumps, although I doubt any will match the one we already had at the east end which was due to an anomaly in the strata. Note that there are two different angles: one for the topsoil and loose surface material, and another steeper angle within the solid bedrock itself.

Speaking of dramatic angles of repose, I'll add that if people knew the underwater topography along the north shore of STX only the sturdiest of souls would purchase property in Cane Bay/Northstar or Salt River. There are several places where the wall slope is negative and undercuts the island.

Yet it's still here, and I'm banking on it's solidity.

Bypass is going to be a lot of fun when it snows:S

lizard, i keep hoping for snow here. do you know something we dont.

Speaking of dramatic angles of repose, I'll add that if people knew the underwater topography along the north shore of STX only the sturdiest of souls would purchase property in Cane Bay/Northstar or Salt River. There are several places where the wall slope is negative and undercuts the island.

Yet it's still here, and I'm banking on it's solidity.

When I first discovered STX (well actually the USCG rescued me and my boat and towed us here 😉 I found the terrain facinating and started reading about the geology here. Seems we really aren't even part of the VI's - rather our own little world - and a very nice one at that!

Bypass is going to be a lot of fun when it snows:S

naw we have a Subaru and fun to go slip and slide:D