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)
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)
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(Feb 20)
Unbuilding Stories
(Mar 13)
Video and Sounds
(Feb 28)

March 4, 2006:
Grace resting at the Navy Yard

Early morning starts early on this Saturday. I talked with Speedy last night and he thought it would be interesting to watch the removal of the lower Mammoet beams - so here is the story.

A look a at Grace, resting peacefully at the Navy yard with her lower Mammoet beam.

Jerome was already working

as were Chris and Speedy

We went over to the Cape May and found Chucky and Manny.

The Capt Gary and Eddie R showed up to help move the barge

Here is Farmer tieing off

Pat and a cup of tea

and where we were - his GPS

On the Eddie R - a cup of coffee with Rip and Art

The real worksite - the end of the main span and the lower Mammoet beam

Chucky and the lift bar

With Manny holding the Mammoet beam in place here are Chris, Speedy and Nugget (hidden) cutting the brace between the Mammoet beam and the underside of Grace

Chris and Nugget - Speedy (hidden) cutting and the last view of Grace with the great Mammoet lower beam

Chris (cutting on the left), Speedy and Nugget

Last cut

Watch Manny lifting the Mammoet lower beam (4 Mb mpg). Here Manny starts lifting the beam

Manny rotates the beam

Here, Chucky is directing where to place the great Mammoet beam

Speedy and Nugget uncoupling the lift cables

and the end result - Grace with no lower Mammoet beam

Today, Sparky took the 2nd shift (he and I only work 6 hour shifts - whereas Testa and Cashman have real endurance - and work 12 hour shifts). Pat, Farmer, Art and Rip rotate Grace into the Testa orientation. Watch them perform the rotation (1 Mb mpg)

A view of Grace in the Testa orientation

Another signature bridge

Bye bye, Grace

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