The last few months, I've started to really notice how shit the quality of most buildings and infrastructure is in the US. I know a lot of people in the construction industry and grew up in it, and it's really just amazing how everything is built to maximize short term appearance and minimize cost. EVERYTHING, even ostensibly "luxury" housing, is built this way. I used to live an apartment building that was only a few years old but when you looked at the details you could already see the thing was falling apart. I've seen roads get resurfaced only to see a bunch of cracks and pot holes show up the next winter.

So as America enters terminal decline, I fully expect the buildings and infrastructure around us is just gonna fall apart and look hideous. Especially the suburbs. I feel like most suburbs are held together with paper mache and veneer. And of course Americans will deny it's happening and pretend it's totally fine.

  • BigLadKarlLiebknecht [he/him, comrade/them]
    ·
    4 years ago

    The roads in the Bay Area are just so incredibly, incredibly bad. There’s not even the excuse of inclement weather as to why they resemble OHV trails.

    Tangentially related, but I still find it funny that the CalTrain Express project led to the introduction of a train service with “Bullet” in the name. It retains the mind blowing top speed of 79mph, and stops at fewer stations. Hence it being “faster”.

    5th largest economy in the world. Pitiful state.

    • LangdonAlger [any]
      ·
      4 years ago

      880 through alameda county lmao, just bumpers everywhere, several inch deep ruts from semi trucks, a gradient of faded former lane marker lines so you never know if you're actually in the correct lane. Real wild west moments