January 25, 2006:
Sparky, Iron Workers and High Adventure
The iron workers that I met during the building of the Ravenel Bridge
and now during the unbuilding of the Grace and Pearman Bridges are just
plain different. Here is where they hang out - with Andrew Miller to
the far left, then Charles Spires and Carlos Perez (boss)
Mike Nally (Marine Supervisor on the right) and Scott (foreman on the left).
and Stan Dawson. I met Stan Dawson was working with Nathan Brooks (Speedy)
as part of Bob McCabe's group
when they were
harvesting griders
on the Mt. Pleasant side.
The Town Creek worksite
and their elevator
Sparky had the opportunity to use the elevator and catch some
spectacular views of the work - here with Nugget and Chris
The Pearman cantilever truss
and its top
The Grace cantilever truss
The guys on their way up
Getting set up for some burning
Looking down the Pearman roadway toward Meeting St. The only reminder is
the lonely Pearman pier at East Bay St.
A closer view of the building or rather, rebuilding between East Bay and Meeting
St.
Looking down the top of the Pearman
Going down - Nugget and Chris Dangerfield
The Drum Island site - what a great job these guys have done cleaning up.
A closer view
Looking down at the pieces of the girders
Chris and Nugget
a view down the crane boom
and back on earth - Here is Paul Achorn, one of the marine
supervisors - who knows what to do next?
More cutting - disassembly of the box girders
piece by piece
Lots of pieces
and when a section is completed
it is moved
One of the major junctions of girders
Better than the 4th of July
just slice and dice
A small conference
and more cutting
An interesting view of cutting
even more interesting
Looking down the inside of the box girder
Even from far away - its interesting
All the while - more cutting
until its all done.