What Would Building Contractors Do Without Those Noisy and Cumbersome Lifts That Need 18 Wheels And A Big, Loud Diesel Rig To Get To and From A Job Site?

 

The enormous, 4-floor Pocketbook Factory certainly wasn't constructed using any noisy gasoline-powered mechanical boom lifts that required a diesel burning behemoth of a truck to transport them to and from 6th & Washington from who knows how far away.  (No, that building was constructed in the late 1800's by real men with rickety wooden ladders!)  But renovating the factory (and so many other buildings here in Hudson) can't seem to proceed without the lifts that never seem to stop beeping when in use.  

But getting the lifts here (or anywhere) is not at all easy, puts added strain on our streets (and sidewalks!!), and adds toxins and greenhouse gases to our lungs and atmosphere.  And noise to our ears and brains!  

Yesterday in the early afternoon at 6th & State, I witnessed a perfect example of the effects these lifts can have even well before they touch the ground and become a beeping annoyance.  When I first noticed the OVERSIZE LOAD flatbed carrying a boom lift, it was backing up on State Street just east of 6th.  I figured the driver had realized that he had missed his turn at 7th to get to Galvan's apartment building, so backing up the entire block was his only option.  Now this I wanted to watch and document!  Little did I know that the driver was backing up so that he could pull forward into the other lane of traffic to give his rig ample space to make the turn onto narrow 6th Street (with cars parked on the west side!!!), likely trying to get the lift to the Pocketbook site.  Some of these truck drivers are incredibly talented and ballsy; I thought the driver was incredibly nuts.  When he began the turn, I was sure that the mailbox was done for, not to mention the two or three cars parked directly across 6th street.

Preparing to turn onto 6th!  I couldn't
believe the driver would even try, though
I guess he had no choice.

All this for one fucking lift!

The fresh pile of dog shit next to the mailbox that
 I noticed while scrambling to get these pictures was
flattened by the truck.  Now how will it be removed?

Three hours later, another OVERSIZE LOAD carrying a boom lift made the turn onto 6th from State (I'm thinking it was the same driver).  The lift was unloaded on 6th Street after the long flatbed was uncoupled from the tractor.  This should have been done in the open lot on Washington Street, not in the street.  I never see anyone from City Hall keeping an eye on all the activity at the Pocketbook and at Galvan's apartment building a block away to make sure contractors and drivers aren't doing stupid shit.

Bonus pic taken 2 weeks ago on Warren Street at the OTHER HOTEL PROJECT.  The old fella must have been walking in the westbound lane for more than 30 seconds.