June 26, 2008

Horse 892 - Programmed Madness



Just when you think you've heard it all, a computer failure closed down Sydney's M5 East tunnel at around 7:10am yesterday (25th June), leaving traffic to bank up for kilometres in both directions.

NSW Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal said the failure meant safety systems such as the tunnel's controversial ventilation were not working. "It's a catastrophic failure in terms of the computer. I understand that system has shut down, and if we have that system not operating, it's not safe to bring people into the tunnel."
This statement is fair enough in all honesty but just when you think the situation couldn't get any worse this little doozy happpened.

When asked what the RTA was doing to rectify the problem, the Roozendaal indicated the government did not have direct supervision of the tunnel and therefore was directly responsible: "It's worth pointing out that the tunnel is actually operated and maintained by Bilfinger Berger, a private company."

So what does this all mean? Well it means that Eric Roozendaal and the RTA are doing exactly what they're employed to do, and that is to direct and shift traffic. Though I wonder whether political traffic and road traffic are enitrely separate.

No comments: