Yesterday I mentioned that infrastructure projects could be used as a way to weather the current crisis in classic Keynesian style.
This is an example of the kind of thing that should be going on: replacement of an aging water system with new pipes. Montreal is in the middle a major replacement project on its aqueduct and water transmission network. The big pipe on the left will carry water soon, replacing pipe laid when this neighborhood was laid out at the beginning of the 20th century.
I asked the workers if the pipe in the brick vault on the right was water too, but they were pretty sure it was sewer. Guess their job was centered on getting the underpinnings for the big pipe in place and not in any detailed work on the old system.
Water systems all over North America will need work like this in the next 20 years. Governments would do well to think of getting on with them now, rather than waiting. That kind of stimulus package would be far more effective than giving money back to taxpayers directly since the money is delivered to workers and the benefit will stay at home.
For those who care: the pictures was taken on the corner of Bernard and Outremont in Montreal's Outremont neighborhood.
2 comments:
It's very cool watching this. On rue Fullum, I saw them digging up a pipe that was made up entirely of carefully built brickwork, as opposed to the concrete pipes we have today (used to make these, for a summer job).
No wonder they're leaky!
Brickwork pipes! Amazing!
M
Post a Comment