Concrete beam saves cars from monster pothole in Ipswich

[Biggles]

AN underground concrete girder built by American troops during World War II is all that stopped cars from plunging into a monster pothole in the main street of Ipswich

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...005961,00.html

AN underground concrete girder built by American troops during World War II is all that stopped cars from plunging into a monster pothole in the main street of Ipswich ... thanks guys!

[Andrew of Ware]

Originally Posted by Biggles

I wasn't sure where to post this ... but thanks to all in the US for stopping Ipswich town centre from disappearing into the bowels of the earth.

If it was Ipswich in England then most people would welcome the town centre disappearing into the earth. (Runs and hides from Richard, because I actually quite like Ipswich.)

[Richard W]

Hmph! I live far enough from the middle that I wouldn't have fallen in the hole anyway, but the actual centre and town square is OK. You'd probably want to wipe out the Civic Drive roundabout, or the one-way system round the former Odeon. Or maybe Carr Street where Woolworths used to be, or ... hmm, better stop thinking about which parts of Ipswich I'd like to fall into a big hole!

I was about to get excited and head into town to look at the big hole when I realised it was Ipswich, Queensland. It would have been the most exciting thing to happen in Ipswich since the serial killer.

[Dactyl]

Originally Posted by Richard W

I was about to get excited and head into town to look at the big hole when I realised it was Ipswich, Queensland. It would have been the most exciting thing to happen in Ipswich since the serial killer.

I didn't pick up the Southern Hemisphere location either, despite the Aussie flag icon and wondered why the American's were putting concrete beams in Suffolk.

[DemonWolf]

Originally Posted by Dactyl

I didn't pick up the Southern Hemisphere location either, despite the Aussie flag icon and wondered why the American's were putting concrete beams in Suffolk.

Obviously, it would have been a part of us bailing you out in WWII.

[Dactyl]

Originally Posted by DemonWolf

Obviously, it would have been a part of us bailing you out in WWII.

Yeah, when you finally got here.

[DemonWolf]

Originally Posted by Dactyl

Yeah, when you finally got here.

It was a long trip and the airline lost our luggage? We had to stop and ask for directions? :o

[Richard W]

Originally Posted by DemonWolf

It was a long trip and the airline lost our luggage? We had to stop and ask for directions? :o

To be fair, if you were on your way to Ipswich then I don't blame you for being a bit late. Procrastination is quite understandable.

[Eddylizard]

I'm slightly interested to know for what purpose the US Army were building concrete underground girders in Ipswich Queensland. Was it part of some structure they constructed in the town centre,or was it originally somewhere else and appropriated after the war as part of the road construction, AMHSC/CHEP style?

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by Eddylizard

I'm slightly interested to know for what purpose the US Army were building concrete underground girders in Ipswich Queensland. Was it part of some structure they constructed in the town centre,or was it originally somewhere else and appropriated after the war as part of the road construction, AMHSC/CHEP style?

But Cr Tully said the situation could have been much worse if not for a large concrete girder installed across the intersection by US Army personnel during World War II.

"This girder was protecting the infrastructure, the sewerage and water mains in 1944, that actually prevented the entire intersection from collapsing yesterday," he said.

Air exclusion zone over massive hole in Ipswich CBD

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/s...8-3102,00.html

[Richard W]

I must say from the photo gallery that it's not quite as big a pothole as I was expecting - I don't think it lives up to its billing as an international star. Perhaps they should remove the concrete beam and see if it becomes more impressive?

Mind you, I do feel a sort of strange affinity with it. A bit sad that a large hole in a town with the same name on the other side of the world is still the most interesting thing to be happening in Ipswich, UK at the moment. It's interesting to see what our namesake looks like anyway.