Changing the face of Charleston : The unbuilding of the Grace and Pearman Bridges
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Blog: 2005
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Blog: 2006
The story of building the Ravenel Bridge
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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)

February 20, 2006:
Sparky braves the elements and catches installation of the Mammoet umbrellas

A dark and dreary day for Sparky, Mammoet, Testa, Cashman and Charleston. The worksite

The box formed by the upper and lower Mammoet beams and cables parallel to the Pearman vertical beam joining the cantilever attachment pins

The left umbrella has been installed and installing the hydraulic jack assembly on the Ravenel Bridge (south) side

A closer view of the installed (on the north: Grace bridge side) hydraulic jack, umbrella and attached cables. The cable bundle on the left passes down to the lower Mammoet beam where it is attached thus forming a cradle. After passing over the umbrella, the cable bundle passes through the hydraulic jack.

Installing the Ravenel Bridge side assembly - Lowering the partner jack, umbrella and cable assembly down to rest on the top of the red beam (Mammoet beam).

A closer view

In context - the beam, umbrella and cable assembly. One end of the cable bundle is attached to the lower beam, feeds up and around the top of the umbrella, down and through the hydraulic jack and then hangs below (I think). Note on the left of the beam joining the cantilever attachment pins is the cable assembly and its harness for connecting to the lower Mammoet beam.

A closer view of the installed jack - umbrella assembly

Almost complete installation. Note the cable assembly bracket being lowered onto the attachment point on the red Mammoet beam.

The lower and upper Mammoet beams with attached jack - umbrella - cable assembly

A closer view of the lower beam and attached cables

The lower cable attachment - just over the lower pin connecting the main span with the cantilever truss.

Stay tuned

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