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)

December 6, 2006: Manny and iron worker acrobatics

Sparky got to the worksite just in time to watch the separation and lowering of one of the final spans

The worksite - note the left box girder (to be removed) and the gap on the right where a box girder used to live.

dec_06_sparky_011_worksite.jpg

another view of the worksite showing Manny's crane and the to-be-removed section between the concrete pier and the temporary supports

dec_06_sparky_012_worksite.jpg

The right rail - recently removed

dec_06_sparky_013_right_rail.jpg

Our team of iron worker acrobats: Carlos, Stan, Robbie?e and Nugget

dec_06_sparky_014_team.jpg

and their elevator

dec_06_sparky_019_elevator.jpg

Up up and away

dec_06_sparky_020_elevator.jpg

In the middle - preparing to wrap the box beam with cables

dec_06_sparky_023_mid_worksite.jpg

Getting into position

dec_06_sparky_024_position.jpg

Carlos signaling Manny

dec_06_sparky_026_signal.jpg

Into position

dec_06_sparky_028_position.jpg

Making a hole for wrapping the cables

dec_06_sparky_038_trim.jpg

Manny moving the cables into position

dec_06_sparky_044_couple.jpg

Waiting

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Cables in position for attaching around the box girder

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Stan (far left) and Robbie preparing one end for attaching

dec_06_sparky_052_connect.jpg

more getting ready

dec_06_sparky_053_connect.jpg

Dropping one end through the hole and wrapping the box girder

dec_06_sparky_057_wrap.jpg

Preparing the other cable

dec_06_sparky_059_wrap.jpg

Carlos signaling Manny - take up the slack

dec_06_sparky_061_wrap.jpg

While someone starts cutting the near end of the box girder

dec_06_sparky_064_cut.jpg

and Manny stabilizes the girder

dec_06_sparky_074_burn.jpg

Robbie starting to burn through the far end with Stan sort of chillin'

dec_06_sparky_076_burn.jpg

and continuing to cut through the near end

dec_06_sparky_081_cut.jpg

while Lewis is cutting the left box girder into smaller sections

dec_06_sparky_089_ground_cut.jpg

A closer view of Carlos cutting the near end

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Robbie cutting at the far end

dec_06_sparky_105_cut.jpg

Completed cut

dec_06_sparky_111_finish.jpg

and Robbie continuing to cut through the other end

dec_06_sparky_129_cut.jpg

while Carlos enjoys the view

dec_06_sparky_138_carlos.jpg

Robbie cutting through the hand rail

dec_06_sparky_162_cut.jpg

and continuing to cut through the box girder

dec_06_sparky_195_cut.jpg

Separation and lift-off

dec_06_sparky_231_lift.jpg

Manny slowly lifts the segment

dec_06_sparky_237_lift.jpg

Wow - what a view - clouds, Manny in action and the separated girder

dec_06_sparky_244_lift.jpg

Then lowering it

dec_06_sparky_266_lower.jpg

down

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down

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down

dec_06_sparky_294_lower.jpg

Looking up the support (Sparky is great with picking interesting perspectives

dec_06_sparky_303_finished.jpg

Paul Achorn and Carlos in the elevator - with the drilled pier behind them

dec_06_sparky_322_scotty_carlos.jpg

Nugget displaying his skill at divide and conquor

dec_06_sparky_339_divide.jpg

Cutting the middle rail

dec_06_sparky_348_divide.jpg

and Nugget cutting the top rail

dec_06_sparky_353_divide.jpg

Manny's cap

dec_06_sparky_332_manny.jpg

Manny and Chris Vocci - what a pair

dec_06_sparky_384_manny.jpg

Sunset

dec_06_sparky_378_sunset.jpg

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

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