August 26, 2005:
Girder removal process of the Pearman on-ramp:
Cooper and Lee Streets (from Sparky Witte).
The five remaining girders are removed one at a time using
two grapples - the right one stabilizes the girder while the left one
pulls it away from the pier cap
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/aug_26_1292_lee.jpg)
You can see the left side pulled back while the right side begins to drop
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/aug_26_1293_lee.jpg)
and here the two grapples gently lay the girder down
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/aug_26_1295_lee.jpg)
And now there are four - with grapples at each end
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/aug_26_1300_lee.jpg)
The left side pulled back while the right side drops
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/aug_26_1302_lee.jpg)
and sort of put to bed
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/aug_26_1303_lee.jpg)
and now there are three
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/aug_26_1306_lee.jpg)
with the third gently lowered to the ground
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/aug_26_1307_lee.jpg)
Removing the last edge girder - the right grapple stabilizes the girder
while the left grapple disrupts the structural integrity
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/aug_26_1329_lee.jpg)
by pulling the left segment back
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/aug_26_1330_lee.jpg)
and then a controlled drop
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/aug_26_1331_lee.jpg)
Nice job - and all removed
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/aug_26_1334_lee.jpg)
Removing the Piers and Cap
Our Testa surgeon grabs the left side of the pier cap
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/aug_26_1339_lee.jpg)
Pulls it forward a bit
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/aug_26_1342_lee.jpg)
and a little more
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/aug_26_1344_lee.jpg)
releases and a small free fall
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/aug_26_1346_lee.jpg)