jal el dib bridge – Gino's Blog

Jal El Dib Solution: Similar to Mathaf, But Will It Take As Much Time?

So, it looks like the cabinet caved in last night and finally approved the plan to find the replacement for the dismantled Jal El Dib bridge after residents threatened to close of both sides of the highway from 7:00 AM till 2:00 PM today (but later canceled, as you all know since you only spent the 2 normal hours of traffic instead of 5)

Above are the proposed renderings, which look very sexy and cool. Too bad reality isn’t the same, and if history’s a lesson, let’s take the Mathaf area trial as an example. This tunnel+roundabout/intersection model has been successfully implemented in that area all the way up to Tayyouneh. Anyone who passes through there knows what a life-saver these infrastructure solutions are.

But, remember how long it took? I think it was the better part of a decade… Will Jal El Dib’s new solution take that long? The cabinet only yesterday approved “consultation” on how best to go about accomplishing the above. If you ask me, I’d say there’s no way it’ll be done before 2014 (and that’s my best-case scenario!). Let’s hope the governments and whichever contractor they hire can prove me wrong, and with the Jal El Dib movement’s prodding and “encouragement”, perhaps you and I will get to use this bridge before our immigration paperwork comes to term =P

: The Mathaf example

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Don’t Die On Collapsing Bridges: Alternative Routes to Jal el Dib and Charles Helou Bridges

After the horrifying Ashrafieh building collapse tragedy and the laughable reactions of the government and authorities, mass hysteria about other buildings and infrastructure not fit for use and habitation have surfaced. Broadcasts, tweets and statuses warning people to avoid the infamous Jal El Dib bridge, which was built back in the 80s and was expected to be in place for 3 to 5 years, is in its third decade. A less “in-your-face” hazard is the Charles Helou bridge-parking-bus stop. Blog Baladi and Kataeb.org have already touched upon this subject, and I’ve borrowed photos and some information from them for this post, so thanks guys!

Pics of Jal el Dib (Taken Today)

I risked my life to take these photos for you guys! I also got my sweater dirty thanks to the leaks from the GAPING holes in the bridge. It’s really fascinating how it didn’t fall down yet. This has been a problem for years, and it should’ve been dismantled this month, but according to my friend Najib from Blog Baladi, political disputes have retarded the plans.

Charles Helou Bridge Held With Wooden Boards

Was closed last weekend. I was hoping they’d be paving the road… Apparently, they were keeping it up with wooden boards. Hurray! -_- (note: I was being sarcastic =P the boards hold up the concrete they added to the cracks and holes, after all, those tiny metal bars and wooden boards won’t hole the tens of thousands of cars that pass there everyday)

So, here are some roads to avoid these bridges (and traffic too). I admit, I wasn’t posting this for the past two years cause I wanted some of them all to myself. Yes, greedy I know. But, I wouldn’t want any of you guys to fall to their deaths so, here you go!

The Port Road

Take the exit on the right instead of going straight near the MTCtouch building. You will go on the road that leads to the Beirut Port entrance and eventually BIEL.

Forum-Gemayel-Armenia-Mar Mikhael

U-turn off the Forum de Beyrouth, go on the Pierre Gemayel road, then at the cross-roads near Art Lounge, go on Armenia Street which is the one that leads to Gemmayzeh eventually. This will probably be less crowded than the Port area. I use it often