2002-05-04 If the government had a cut-off date set for changing the signs, I would think that the cut-off date also applied to the change in speed and odometers in cars as well. Car companies would have to know in advance so they can have the proper speed/odometer units installed in the cars on time. And even if the signs did not change, the cars would be metric ready. As the amount of metric speedometers increased in the cars, there would be a push to harmonise the signs with the cars if the signs had not changed yet. In other words the one has to be done at the same time as the other.
I now wonder if the sluggishness of the change has to do with the Automakers. They may be pressuring the government not to change the signs and to keep delaying. Even though they could save money by promoting a single system world-wide by having only one style of speed/odometer for their cars, they presently have to use metric for most of the world and miles for Britain/Ireland and the USA. It may be cost prohibited if they lose Britain and Ireland to the metric side. It might mean that the cost to produce mile odometers for the US market only would not be cost effective, and thus they need to maintain Britain and Ireland in the mile mode. I'm just guessing and throwing this idea out for comment. Could it be the Automakers that are behind the sluggishness of the change? John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Han Maenen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, 2002-05-04 07:21 Subject: [USMA:19898] Harbour tunnel in Dublin > This is from the Irish Times of to-day. Let us hope that soon the units used > in this article will be the norm in Ireland for good! But still a deafening > silence about the metrication of the speed limits. > > Han > Historian of Dutch Metrication, Nijmegen, The Netherlands > > > > Giant machine could bore for Dublin as port tunnel proceeds By Joe Humphreys > > > A giant tunnel-boring machine, 11.8 metres in diameter, is to begin work > next week on the Dublin Port Tunnel. The machine, which has been installed > at Whitehall, will bore at an average rate of 10 metres a day over a total > of 2.4 km, surfacing at Fairview Park. > > It took three ships to transport to Dublin the 105 pieces which make up the > machine, which is one of two tunnel-borers to be used on the project. > > Dublin City Council has said it would monitor local properties throughout > the operation to safeguard householders from nuisance or disturbance. The > local authority has also appointed a panel of independent surveyors who will > carry out surveys on building conditions above the route and within 30 > metres of it, as agreed with residents, before and after the works. > > According to the council, vibrations will be kept below levels at which even > cosmetic damage could occur. After residents raised concerns, the scheme was > redesigned to lower the depth of the tunnel so that its top would be no more > than 18-24 metres below houses. > > The Japanese construction company Nishimatsu forms one-part of a > three-legged consortium NMI, to which the project contract was awarded. > > The Tokyo-based company has 65 years in construction, mainly in Asia, and > has carried out projects in Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore. It is > specifically responsible for the boring section of the �448 million Dublin > project. > > The tunnel, which will provide for two lanes of traffic in both directions, > is due to open in early 2005. It is expected to divert 9,000 trucks and > heavy good vehicles from the city each day. > > > >
