Innovations in RipRap Management

"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck) 11/22/2019 at 22:39 • Filed to: None

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This is a recently renovated underpass. I believe the riprap was placed to discourage the homeless from living under the overpass. This innovative fellow decided to build a more permanent structure with the materials so generously provided by TXDOT.

If you can’t tell what’s going on, he removed enough rocks to make a flat spot suitable for sleeping and a clear path to get to it. The rocks he removed were used to build some low walls. 

CB > TheRealBicycleBuck 11/22/2019 at 22:53

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I wonder how much money was spent on the anti-homelessness and if that could’ve better been spent on social support programs.

Remember the Merit from GTA SA? > TheRealBicycleBuck 11/22/2019 at 22:57

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With that level of creativity, h ow does he not have a job/enough money to, well, not be homeless?

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > TheRealBicycleBuck 11/22/2019 at 22:59

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Does that area flood? 

TheRealBicycleBuck > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 11/22/2019 at 23:02

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It’s not far from an area that does flood, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it did. 

and 100 more > Remember the Merit from GTA SA? 11/22/2019 at 23:03

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Too poor to work. 

TheRealBicycleBuck > CB 11/22/2019 at 23:05

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The area has to have some kind of covering. RipRap is a cheap alternative.

I’ve had to deal with the homeless quite a bit since working in Houston. There are plenty of opportunities if they want a hand up instead of a handout. 

TheRealBicycleBuck > Remember the Merit from GTA SA? 11/22/2019 at 23:06

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Good question. The guy two miles down the road will wash your windows for money. Another plays guitar. This guy holds up a sign.

facw > Remember the Merit from GTA SA? 11/22/2019 at 23:07

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Still lots of things that can go wrong. I’m assuming that in general, anyone living under a bridge probably has mental health issues.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > TheRealBicycleBuck 11/22/2019 at 23:08

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Hey, I actually know what riprap is from reading up on my new job for the local flood commission. I’d be tempted to guess it was probably placed along the bridge abutment for erosion control.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Remember the Merit from GTA SA? 11/22/2019 at 23:08

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mental illness/ addictions

pip bip - choose Corrour > TheRealBicycleBuck 11/22/2019 at 23:30

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TXDOT should’ve made it a giant sloping surface if they wanted to deter the homeless

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Remember the Merit from GTA SA? 11/22/2019 at 23:47

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Some people prefer to be homeless as well.

From an outsider's point of view, that gets lumped in with mental illness, but I can understand the draw of it. 

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > TheRealBicycleBuck 11/23/2019 at 00:34

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What is the gradation of that stone? looks more architectural than functional. There are so many homeless people in the big city’s these days I feel like it’s a huge problem that’s only getting worse. Portland and San Francisco come to mind. In Portland you don’t go a block without tripping over someone sleeping on the sidewalk.

wafflesnfalafel > TheRealBicycleBuck 11/23/2019 at 09:44

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he’s just playing “fort”

WSDOT has been using that kind of overpass rocking up here for years as erosion mitigation long before we had the numbers of folks down on their luck so I’m not sure if this is an example of money specifically spent to discourage homeless folks.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 11/23/2019 at 10:21

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It’s from fist to bowling-ball sized. It’s a dark, dry space, so the primary cause of erosion is wind. The riprap is fine for preventing wind erosion.

TheRealBicycleBuck > pip bip - choose Corrour 11/23/2019 at 10:23

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The area is too flat to create giant sloping surfaces. It’s also quite expensive to move that much dirt. 

Brickman > TheRealBicycleBuck 11/25/2019 at 11:28

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Riprap to keep out the riff raff :P

He built himself a fort, next for some rock throwing catapults. 

ttyymmnn > TheRealBicycleBuck 12/12/2019 at 00:18

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Gov. Abbott kicked out all the homeless camps in the underpasses in Austin, and i presume elsewhere in TX. 

TheRealBicycleBuck > ttyymmnn 12/12/2019 at 01:23

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Not in Houston!

ttyymmnn > TheRealBicycleBuck 12/12/2019 at 08:24

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A bbot doesn’t live in Houston.

TheRealBicycleBuck > ttyymmnn 12/12/2019 at 10:46

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I guess what isn’t seen isn’t really there.

ttyymmnn > TheRealBicycleBuck 12/12/2019 at 11:02

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They  are trying to buy old hotel properties for these folks. We’ll see how that goes.