January 28, 2006:
Ironworker acrobats unbuilding the
Pearman cantilever
Yesterday Sparky watched our acrobats remove the
top section of the A
the next to last step in competing the cantilever removal.
Today, I watch the removal of the bottom section of the A - more
ironworker acrobatics. Here is the worksite
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4087_port_worksite.jpg)
and the crane bringing the cables for holding the to-be-cut segment
(the half upside down V over the pier)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4093_port_crane.jpg)
Two acrobats - one on each side grabbing the pair of cables
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4095_port_grab.jpg)
then orienting them - one for each side of the girder
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4096_port_connect.jpg)
and connecting a shackel to each side of the girder
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4100_port_attach.jpg)
and then gentle tension
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4108_port_attached.jpg)
Now to start cutting the girder - from our right to left
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4110_port_start.jpg)
Burning a line across the girder
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4115_port_burn.jpg)
and then cutting across the edges
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4154_port_end_burn.jpg)
The last burn - and with your curious eyes, you can see the gap on left side
opening.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4160_port_last_burn.jpg)
A little more tension separates the girder from the base
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4163_port_separate.jpg)
and signaling to lift the girder segment
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4164_port_lift_signal.jpg)
Lifting
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4165_port_lift.jpg)
rotating
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4170_port_lift.jpg)
and lowering
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4180_port_lower.jpg)
Now for the other side - rotating to bring the cables to the nearer girder
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4191_port_next.jpg)
Signaling
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4195_port_signal.jpg)
attaching the shackel for one of the two cables
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4198_port_attach_shackle.jpg)
a closer view
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4198_port_attach_shackle_close.jpg)
sort of walking down the girder
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4201_port_walking_down.jpg)
another step
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4204_port_coming_down.jpg)
Then starting to cut the girder
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4214_port_burn.jpg)
The last of the cutting
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4232_port_last_burn.jpg)
a closer view
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4232_port_last_burn_close.jpg)
Signaling to lift
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4233_port_signal.jpg)
the girder is free
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4235_port_free.jpg)
and moved to the barge
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_28_4242_port_remove.jpg)