Changing the face of Charleston : The unbuilding of the Grace and Pearman Bridges
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Unbuilding Highlights
(Apr 10)
Meeting St. Stories
(Jul 10 2006)
East Bay Stories
(Oct 10 2006)
Drum Island Stories
(Feb 17)
Pearman Bridge Stories
(Apr 3)
Grace Bridge Stories
(Apr 3)
Imposions: Prep and boom
(Mar 27)
Unbuilding Bridge Blog
(July 23 2006)
Unbuilding Challenges
(Mar 13)
Learning Links
(Feb 20)
Unbuilding Stories
(Mar 13)
Video and Sounds
(Feb 28)

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Work on the Grace Structures
Click a photo below for a link to that story. For a display of all stories, click here.


August 01, 2005 0:00
From SCDOT: A view from above

aug_01_scdot_05_chs_approaches.jpg
August 18, 2005 18:15
Grace off ramp

aug_18_699_chs_grace.jpg
August 19, 2005 17:03
Grace Main Span Pins

aug_19_3937_grace.jpg
October 01, 2005 0:00
From SCDOT: A view from above

oct_01_scdot_27_pearman_girders.jpg
October 01, 2005 9:32
Removing the Grace roadway and final preparations for droppping the Pearman-Town Creek segment

oct_01_5631_grace_overview.jpg
October 01, 2005 14:05
Removing the Grace Roadway

oct_01_5701_grace_roadway.jpg
October 03, 2005 19:27
Neil Myers night crew at work

oct_03_5928_grace_ravenel.jpg
October 06, 2005 0:00
Finishing roadway removal of the Town Creek section of the Grace Bridge

oct_06_grace_sparky_058.jpg
October 14, 2005 0:00
Removing roadway from the Grace Approach

oct_14_sparky_grace_173.jpg
October 22, 2005 8:21
An early morning look at progress over Drum Island

oct_22_1774_grace_pearman_burners.jpg
October 25, 2005 7:56
Clearing Grace and Pearman structures from Drum Island

oct_25_6961_grace_ravenel.jpg
October 29, 2005 11:46
Dropping the cables on the Grace superstructure

oct_29_grace_7415_cable.jpg
November 14, 2005 21:05
Picking a Grace segment of the East Bay overpasses

nov_14_3753_grace_down.jpg
November 16, 2005 7:50
Unbuilding the Grace while marching across Drum Island

nov_16_0557_grace_drum.jpg
November 18, 2005 11:20
Removing the Grace skeleton inside the Port

nov_18_4002_final_cut.jpg
November 19, 2005 11:08
The disappearing Pearman Stonehenge and going is the Grace ramp

nov_19_089_inside_grace.jpg
November 25, 2005 12:11
A Thanksgiving Holiday

nov_25_4433_shear_grapple_bridge.jpg
November 30, 2005 9:50
Pio, Brad, Ted and Richie playing the Grace

nov_30_4492_roadway_pickup.jpg
December 01, 2005 14:00
A gift from SCDOT - a view from above

dec_01_scdot_117_grace_town_creek.jpg
December 04, 2005 15:27
Grace departs from Drum Island

dec_04_sparky_008_grace_drum.jpg
December 06, 2005 10:01
Dropping the Town Creek Section of the Grace Bridge

dec_06_1217_b1.jpg
December 06, 2005 18:12
Raising Grace from Town Creek

dec_06_1497_lift.jpg
December 11, 2005 0:00
Roadway and girder removal - Grace is fast disappearing

dec_11_4900_grace_end.jpg
December 12, 2005 7:32
Pio and his Grace jazz ensemble

dec_12_1779_steve_cutting.jpg
December 13, 2005 8:27
Early morning girder harvesting

dec_13_1953_brad_pull.jpg
December 14, 2005 7:12
How much sidewalk can Pio make from the Grace roadbed?

dec_14_2203_pio_backup.jpg
January 01, 2006 12:45
A snapshot of the Gace and Pearman skeletons

jan_01_sparky_055.jpg
January 05, 2006 16:45
Unbuilding Grace: a family affair

jan_05_5325_grace_roy_concrete.jpg
January 07, 2006 9:00
More unbuilding of the Grace roadway

jan_07_5460_steve_concrete.jpg
January 11, 2006 7:41
Early morning at the Pearman and Grace ramps

jan_11_3139_under_pearman.jpg
January 12, 2006 17:29
Sparky catching sunset at its best

jan_12_sparky_158_pg.jpg
January 15, 2006 14:00
The Grace sand pile

jan_15_sparky_038.jpg
January 17, 2006 13:00
Unbuilding the Grace trusses

jan_17_167.jpg
January 17, 2006 14:43
Unbuilding the Grace cantilever trusses

jan_17_016.jpg
January 19, 2006 17:38
Sparky catches sunset over Town Creek

jan_19_sparky_130_sunset_grace.jpg
January 21, 2006 8:50
Unbuilding the Drum Island and Port segments of the Grace trusses

jan_21_6667_grace_burn_close.jpg
January 21, 2006 10:05
Downhill unbuilding of the Grace ramp

jan_21_6626_grace_bird.jpg
January 24, 2006 15:40
Preparing the Grace cantilever segment for a blast

jan_24_6757_grace_burn.jpg
January 25, 2006 13:50
Gone is the Grace off ramp at America St.

jan_25_3556_grace_ramp.jpg
January 28, 2006 9:18
Almost finished: Jaws and unbuilding Grace's ramp

jan_28_4066_grace_jaws.jpg
January 31, 2006 4:10
Backing down the Grace at 4am

jan_31_4253_rich.jpg
February 01, 2006 0:00
SCDOT gives us a view from above

feb_01_scdot_04_ebay_shop.jpg
February 04, 2006 16:20
A transition from unbuilding to rebuilding

feb_04_4546_meeting.jpg
February 04, 2006 17:30
Pio and a tight squeeze: two excavators passing on the Grace

feb_04_4590_tight_squeeze.jpg
February 04, 2006 20:10
A surprise from Marvin + Jack, Lewis, Rich and Scott - 600 Grace feet to go

feb_04_4763_cutting_rebar.jpg
February 08, 2006 16:15
The last gasps of the Grace roadway

feb_08_4991_grace_worksite.jpg
February 09, 2006 2:10
The end of Grace: Unpouring the last segment of the Grace ramp

feb_08_5483_pm_richie_jack_roy.jpg
February 12, 2006 11:05
A Sunday survey of the worksites

feb_12_5502_grace_skeleton.jpg
February 15, 2006 10:00
Explosive fracture of the Grace Cantilever Truss

feb_15_6023_blast.jpg
February 16, 2006 13:06
The Mammoet umbrella and Grace / Pearman preparations

feb_15_sparky_jacks_041_cables_ravenel.jpg
February 17, 2006 10:12
Jim Grier and his A team fells the last Grace segment on Drum Island

feb_17_6084_grace_worksite.jpg
February 17, 2006 11:10
Sparky's whirlwind visit: up, down and all around

feb_17_sparky_jacks_262_pearman_east_platform.jpg
February 26, 2006 7:45
Preparing Grace for dropping her main span

feb_26_7434_grace_west.jpg
March 01, 2006 6:45
The Ironworkers proclaim that the Cooper River is Graceless

mar_01_sparky_168_iw_flag.jpg
March 04, 2006 7:30
Manny, Chucky, Nugget, Chris, Speedy Pat, Farmer, Art and Rip: Removing the Mammoet beam

mar_04_8725_chris_speedy_nugget_cutting.jpg
March 08, 2006 16:45
Sparky captures Pio, Richie and the team playing a Farewell to Grace

mar_08_sparky_698_farewell.jpg
March 10, 2006 17:30
Bye Bye Grace

mar_10_sparky_116_pio.jpg
March 11, 2006 16:08
Retrieving the cantilever truss

mar_11_sparky_185_helping.jpg
March 13, 2006 16:45
Multiple personalities of Testa operators

mar_13_sparky_196_mike_chris.jpg
March 16, 2006 12:10
Unbuilding the grace support girders and piers

mar_16_sparky_612_grace_girders.jpg
March 18, 2006 7:04
Ironworker acrobats display their Graceful respect of Grace

mar_18_9290_overview.jpg
March 20, 2006 11:03
Grace, Richie and Jackie: A tango at the Navy Yard

mar_18_sparky_386_richie_jackie.jpg
March 22, 2006 8:25
Starting to unbuild P-3

mar_22_9519_morning.jpg
March 25, 2006 15:23
Michael's headache and more tenacity of purpose

mar_25_sparky_001_Grace_tenacity.jpg
March 27, 2006 15:03
Rebuilding a jackup barge leg, work on "Stiff Neck" and pre-blast prep on the Pearman

mar_27_sparky_001_missing_rack.jpg
March 28, 2006 17:03
Unbuilding Pio's legacy and repairs

mar_28_sparky_084_jackup.jpg
March 31, 2006 11:17
Sparky and Sparky 2 and a trip around the worksites

mar_31_sparky_021_2_sparkys.jpg
April 01, 2006 0:00
From SCDOT: A view from above

apr_01_scdot_19_east_bridges.jpg
April 03, 2006 16:10
Pio, Richie, Jackie and Michael - unbuilding Grace

apr_03_sparky_015_grace_sunset.jpg
April 06, 2006 18:45
Sunsets over Grace: without words

apr_06_sparky_009_sparky.jpg
April 08, 2006 7:09
Michael, P-3 and his 1250

apr_08_sparky_026_cab.jpg
April 08, 2006 13:05
The dynamic duo: Jackie and Richie

apr_09_sparky_119_resting.jpg
April 09, 2006 9:04
A neck procedure for Michael's 1250

apr_09_sparky_132.jpg
April 11, 2006 10:00
Oscar and the DD team

oscar_1.jpg
April 11, 2006 14:30
Planting explosives on the truss between P-11 and P-13

apr_11_097_grace_shield.jpg
April 12, 2006 9:59
Grace trusses between P-11 and P-13 down

apr_12_frames_065.jpg
April 14, 2006 9:48
Then and Now - Transforming the skylines of Charleston and Mt. Pleasant

apr_14_sparky_101_ravenel_east.jpg
April 18, 2006 12:19
Unbuilding the west Grace cantilever

apr_18_sparky_259_grace.jpg
April 24, 2006 16:05
Cleanup around the Cooper River and the Navy Yard

apr_24_sparky_064_navy.jpg
April 26, 2006 13:15
Jackie Foley and Michael Hebb and how to fish for Grace truss sections

apr_25_sparky_158_retrieve.jpg
April 26, 2006 13:47
Charge placement on the Grace structure

apr_25_sparky_140_grace_charge_wrapped.jpg
April 28, 2006 10:00
Bye bye Grace (Mt. Pleasant side)

apr_28_blast_067.jpg
April 29, 2006 12:38
A retrieval composition for Crane, Grapple and Shear

apr_29_recov_082_grab.jpg
May 03, 2006 10:16
Quartet for Diver, Crane, Grapple and Shear

may_03_sparky_318_ryan.jpg
May 08, 2006 10:38
A surprise in a small package

cooper_river_bridge_1929.jpg
May 08, 2006 12:41
Unbuilding does not stop for lunch

may_07_sparky_061_pearman_lower.jpg
May 11, 2006 16:10
Sparky makes a tour of the worksites (between the rain episodes)

may_11_sparky_004_grace_pearman_worksite.jpg
May 16, 2006 8:57
The Last Grace Blast and a tribute from the C-17s and F-15s

may_17_kim_0004_blast.jpg
May 16, 2006 11:00
After the dance - cleanup time

may_16_after_0011_nugget.jpg
May 21, 2006 11:21
Unbuilding P-10 - the strategy

may_21_sparky_015.jpg
May 27, 2006 4:30
Installing the Grace bearings, May 22, 1929

may_22_1929bearingshoes.jpg
June 01, 2006 10:00
A view from above by SCDOT

jun_01_scdot_02_cooper_worksite.jpg
June 03, 2006 17:51
Michael's 1250 at the Navy Yard

jun_03_sparky_558_michael.jpg
June 04, 2006 12:51
What a change in the Cooper River landscape

jun_04_sparky_064_sunset_worksite.jpg
June 05, 2006 15:00
Blowing P-12

jun_05_mickey_006_ignition.jpg
June 05, 2006 16:10
Drilling the footing with a template - prep for P-11 blast

jun_05_8508_lewis_chris_derrick_ODell.jpg
June 07, 2006 12:57
Preparing to unbuild P-11: A template + drilling + skill

jun_07_8740_lift_sleeve.jpg
June 07, 2006 15:45
Tim and Michael hammering away while Smokey is fishing

jun_07_8773_michael.jpg
June 19, 2006 12:05
Reviewing the past 2 years:
The changing face of the Cooper River

jul_21_2004_8506_worksite.jpg
June 20, 2006 19:15
Cleanup at the Navy Yard and a new player

jun_20_sparky_010_new_excavator.jpg
June 24, 2006 11:57
From SCDOT, Julie and Randi - A history of the project from above

apr_01_scdot_19_east_bridges.jpg
June 26, 2006 15:10
Our backup video team and the Navy Yard

jun_26_sparky_003_satya.jpg
June 30, 2006 13:15
See Mickey's new Copco

jun_30_c3_sparky_014_new_copco.jpg
June 30, 2006 13:35
Marine life in the Cooper River

jun_30_c3_sparky_057_growth.jpg
July 03, 2006 20:23
Sunset over the Graceless Cooper River

jul_03_sparky_005_sunset.jpg
July 12, 2006 14:55
P-10 says goodbye to Charleston

jul_12_p10_hires_018_blast.jpg
July 17, 2006 11:54
Meet the Jay Cashman (aka 995)

jul_17_995_010.jpg
July 22, 2006 10:30
Meet Billy Ward and the 995 in action

jul_22_pleasant_012.jpg
July 24, 2006 16:08
Building the Observation Pier and unbuilding P-8 and P-9

jul_23_waterfront_025_obs_pier.jpg
August 16, 2006 19:06
New boy on the block at the Navy Yard

aug_16_navy_012.jpg
August 30, 2006 14:36
Final cleanup at the Navy Yard

aug_30_michael_008.jpg
September 14, 2006 17:54
Unbuilding the last of the Grace structure

sep_14_marina_010.jpg
September 16, 2006 9:42
Part 1: Chris, Robbie, Lewis and Carlos - Graceful acrobats @ work

sep_16_grace_145_up_up.jpg
September 16, 2006 10:49
Part 2: Raising the Grace pier truss

sep_16_grace_464.jpg
September 16, 2006 16:45
Part 3: Unbuilding Grace from her feet

sep_16_grace_554.jpg
September 20, 2006 16:23
A new Grace foundation and Mt Pleasant work

sep_20_sparky_004.jpg
September 23, 2006 12:14
A little bit of building - the midsection Grace support

sep_23_grace_006.jpg
October 10, 2006 9:00
Brian Dadin joins our team and Grace has a mid-span support

oct_10_brian_grace_truss.jpg
October 13, 2006 17:13
From Mt. Pleasant to Charleston. Sparky provides an all around update

oct_13_sparky_030.jpg
October 17, 2006 15:48
The J. Cashman scooping and dumping + a bit of Chris Vocci

oct_17_sparky_018_995_worksite.jpg
October 26, 2006 11:00
An aerial survey from SCDOT

oct_03_scdot_14a.jpg
October 30, 2006 15:56
Blasting Grace's foot prints

oct_30_blast_013_completion.jpg
November 09, 2006 17:23
Manny and Chris get well deserved extensions

nov_09_sparky_116_extend.jpg
November 15, 2006 15:03
Gloom and rain can not stop unbuilding

nov_15_sparky_001_unbuild.jpg
November 20, 2006 17:19
More Pearman truss unbuilding

nov_21_pearman_027_bite.jpg
December 02, 2006 16:17
Sparky is back from Katrina-land to give us a bridge fix

dec_02_sparky_137_sign.jpg
December 13, 2006 16:02
A foggy Grace worksite

dec_13_grace_169_worksite.jpg
December 13, 2006 18:03
The Navy yard - cleanup and the 995

dec_13_navy_399_worksite.jpg
December 15, 2006 11:41
Watch Manny and the Ironworkers unbuild a Grace section

dec_15_sparky_029.jpg
December 15, 2006 12:34
More unbuilidng of Grace

dec_15_sparky_192.jpg
December 15, 2006 13:14
Unbuilding the next section

dec_16_sparky_216.jpg
December 15, 2006 14:24
Carlos, Manny, Nugget and Stan - do it again Sam!

dec_15_sparky_pm_005.jpg
December 15, 2006 16:39
Another face lift by Manny, Carlos and the team

dec_15_sparky_pm_158.jpg
December 15, 2006 18:03
Removing the next section over the temp supports

dec_15_sparky_pm_319.jpg
December 16, 2006 9:55
Nearing the end of unbuilding Grace

dec_16_sparky_065.jpg
December 16, 2006 12:08
A view of the Grace Skateboard ramp from above

dec_16_sparky_269.jpg
December 19, 2006 9:34
Unbuilding half the last superstructure

dec_19_last_035.jpg
December 19, 2006 10:18
Carlos, Lewis, Nugget, Stan, Robbie, Randi, Rick, Manny, Chris and a segment of Project Runway

dec_19_last_313.jpg
December 19, 2006 12:09
The last of Grace to come down

dec_19_last_530.jpg
December 20, 2006 14:20
Unbuilding half the Grace roadway skeleton

dec_20_sparky_249.jpg
December 21, 2006 10:47
Near completion of the Grace steel structures

dec_21_sparky_025.jpg
December 22, 2006 16:28
SCDOT's aerial survey

dec_02_scdot_14.jpg
January 02, 2007 14:15
Cleanup at the Port site

jan_02_sparky_060_worksite_view.jpg
January 05, 2007 16:14
Neither rain, snow, or ice can keep Jimmy Grier from an oyster roast

jan_05_sparky_044.jpg
January 30, 2007 16:41
Michael unbuilding the last Grace pier

jan_30_sparky_019_T1.jpg
February 01, 2007 16:00
Fog wraps cousin Arthur

feb_01_sparky_018_ravenel.jpg
February 10, 2007 12:08
Sparky takes a walk down memory lane, with Liza and Lauren

feb_10_sparky_004_walki.jpg
February 13, 2007 14:12
Preparing the last Grace pier for implosion

feb_13_sparky_029_grace_worksite.jpg
February 24, 2007 13:05
A quintet for 4 guys and the moon

feb_24_sparky_186_crop_quartet_moon.jpg
February 27, 2007 13:48
Cleanup and final prep for the T-2 foundation implosion

feb_27_sparky_011_dump.jpg
March 02, 2007 13:37
Driling the last Grace pier

mar_02_sparky_007_grace_worksite.jpg
March 09, 2007 13:55
Manny and team: fetching and toting

mar_09_sparky_046_worksite.jpg
March 10, 2007 9:47
Manny: lifting, positioining, lifting again, positioining again and then hammering

mar_10_sparky_012_manny.jpg
March 11, 2007 10:53
More prep for the last Grace pier

mar_11_sparky_064_worksite.jpg
March 12, 2007 10:35
Mickey, Ken and team loading up for tomorrow's last big event

mar_12_sparky_001_morning_worksite.jpg
March 13, 2007 10:15
Bringing down the last Grace pier

mar_13_grace_079_b1.jpg
March 13, 2007 14:25
Manny demonstrates the Manny push strategy.

mar_13_grace_234_push.jpg
March 14, 2007 16:36
Fishing for debris from yesterday's implosion

mar_14_sparky_005_carlos_robbie.jpg
March 17, 2007 8:43
Finishing the Mt Pleasant Pier, Cleanup at the port and Mickey drilling the last Grace base

mar_17_sparky_032_drilling.jpg
March 20, 2007 18:42
Cleanup on the Charleston side and another Charleston Sunset

mar_20_sparky_033_worksite.jpg
March 21, 2007 15:25
Cleanup, Randy and Driving with Sparky

mar_21_sparky_033_worksite.jpg
March 26, 2007 11:06
Manny and Mickey - what a pair. Watch the last of the Copco drilling exercise

mar_26_sparky_229_rotate.jpg
March 27, 2007 16:00
The last Graceful Blast from Mickey, Michael, Ken and the entire unbuilding team

mar_27_sparky_wave.jpg
March 29, 2007 16:46
The clean up after ...

mar_29_sparky_071_cleanup_site.jpg
April 03, 2007 12:35
The last of Manny. What a man and what a smile - sigh

apr_04_sparky_057_last_manny.jpg
April 10, 2007 7:42
Morning sun kisses the Graceless and Pearmanless Ravenel Bridge

apr_10_sparky_009.jpg

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Attribution: C. Frank Starmer and Sparky Witte from http://oldcooperriverbridge.org