Articles and Reviews | O'Brien's Edge

More news and updates
Re: The Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project

Local’s 433 & 378 Ironworker’s changing the Long Beach Skyline in Grand Style

Usually the updates found here-in at obriensedgemusic.com are about music related subject matter. Stories of whats behind particular songs written by Shane O’Brien or any combination of various O’Briens Edge members or Gigs and news reviews of events we participated into. Many times
new audio recordings uploaded to the net or cool videos have been released, all in regards to Shane O’Brien and his musical family of friends.

This post and the post prior to this one have been focused on the Ironworker part of this artist’s life. A glimpse into an average day of his Ironworker world and the business of conducting a salt of the earth skilled trade. As diversified tradesmen who manipulate steel to fabricate components and erect iron structures, in concert with his Union Brothers and Sisters, in real stand up tangible ways.

Pier 17 Bridge Segment and M S and B S Traveler Platforms

Here’s a little O’Briens Edge Music in accompaniment with the following progress photos to view as well.

Segment No 1 View from the road deck of the old GD Bridge

Notice the Traveler Platform erected on the right {Back Span}, also notice the traveler platform being erected on the left {Main Span} using a Strand Jacking system

A View from across the Channel looking west to east

Traveler Platforms with retractable Gangways to travel past any Pier or bent in it’s path

Douglas Klug has performed with my band for decades actually. Thank you for the nod Doug, you make for a good interview.

Notice the first two Cable Stayed Pipe Sections, will soon suspend the Pier Table and hold our Bridge completely

Notice the first two Cable Stayed Pipe Sections Installed of 180 total

The Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project

Music is on the Back Burner for a little while, so we Ironworker’s can complete building a new bridge

Shane O’Brien isn’t only all about the music he writes and records, mind you it’s all the music selections for the O’Briens Edge shows. Shane is also a versatile Ironworker from Ironworker’s Local 433 in Los Angeles. The jobs seem to be just as important as the music these days. Up front and center today in Shane’s Ironworker world, is assisting his local 433 members into building the new Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project. That bridge replaces an ancient existing bridge, which spans the distance over from Terminal Island to Long Beach, California.

Today the first sections of iron that supports the road deck on either direction from the east tower was erected without a hitch. It took a few good hands to get this project to this momentous position and we are all very proud to be part of creating this cool landmark. I’m sure a point of topic for future Shane O’Brien and O’Briens Edge music. Attached are some shared snippets of time via photos from the past week. Set to music from the past decade, created by Shane…