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)
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(Apr 3)
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(Apr 3)
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(Mar 27)
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(July 23 2006)
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(Feb 28)

April 29, 2006: Retrieving Grace from the Cooper River

Sparky was out today catching the action at both the blast site and at the Navy yard. I put together a video from his still shots just to illustrate the retrieval trio for Crane (Richard), Shear (Jackie) and Grapple (Michael)

The worksite

Now for some serious fishing - attaching the cables - to retrieve this piece. Here, Speedy is on top while Scotty and ? are providing some assistance.

and Michael's grapple supporting the fishing line that Speedy is working with. I would call this 50 ton test line. Scotty and ? are adjusting the cables to catch the big one.

Michael taking a bite while Richard stabilizes the section

and a bit of lifting action from Richard and Michael

Now Michael retreats, but with his jaws in the open configuration. Now that Michael is finished, watch Richard lift this section from the Cooper River (2 Mb mpg video)

and more lift

and more lifting

Now with the Grace section resting on the barge,

it is time for some initial surgical removal of key sections. Here are some demonstrations of Jackie's surgical skills involved in dissassembly of the Grace truss (all done while Michael stabilizes the setion with his shiney new grapple).

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Jackie demonstrates the biting procedure

Then the pull procedure

Another bite

A push

Another bite

Another bite

Now it is time to rotate the truss section into the proper surgical position for high speed disassembly. Watch Michael rotate this section of Grace with his grapple

The formation (Duet for Jackie and Michael)

The Jackie and Michael duet - in their high speed disassembly positions. This high speed disassembly is a bit frustrating to Richie, back in the Navy yard. He can't seem to get ahead of the arrival of new material. But then there is only one Richie while the dynamic duo of Jackie and Michael are maybe more than 2.

On the way back - a check on the status of P-3. Who is doing the finish work on P-3?

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