View of one set of platforms, Permanent and temporary
View of the outside box girders before the floor beams are erected tying everything in together
View after the main floor beams are erected
Highlighting the Piers the Bridge will connect with on the approach sides
Tower Night Lights Green and Red
Notice the working platforms underneath the ne road deck. the two closest to the tower are permanent and both outside platforms are erection aids
NEW GERALD DESMOND BRIDGE UPDATE NOV 2018_JAN 2019 VIA LOCAL 433 IRONWORKER PERSPECTIVE Re: progress at both shoreline towers 16 and 17
p>The following photos of the work being performed at Tower 16 on the Terminal Island side and tower 17 on the Long Beach side of the Port of Long Beach channel.
In the first group of photos notice that the construction progress of the road deck is advancing toward the center span. The erection of road deck sections is near completion over the land segments and advancing to work that will be over the ocean’s channel heading towards the halfway point. Note that this is a balanced cantilever erection method, in other words there is an equal amount of road deck being constructed on both sides of the tower. On the back span of tower 16 heading toward the piers of the approach, construction is soon nearing the halfway point.
Tower 16 photo taken from the road deck of the old GD Bridge
Tower 17 From the Road deck of the old GD Bridge highlighting both stiff leg derricks in orange
More photos of Tower 16 Progress
This captures a time last spring when the fist pipe columns were erected facilitating the first section of road deck to be constructed
Artist rendering of the final product
Artist rendering photos obtained at the ground breaking ceremony July 2013
Night view from back channel west shore looking southAerial view of south elevationDriver’s Perspective at NightDaytime view from the back channel west shore, looking southLastly in this collection of photos, is simply a really cool shot as viewed from the tower crane operators perspective
“The Bluesman” From the Shane O’Brien and O’Briens Edge CD “The SDT Session” [c]2003
More Music to Enjoy:
Here is a rendition of a Shane O’Brien piece of music titled “The Genuine One” As much as this song is requested to be performed at live shows using a band format, this simple slow delivery hits home just as well thus it becomes slightly unique
Night view from back channel west shore looking southDaytime view from the back channel west shore, looking southAerial view of south elevationDriver’s Perspective at Night
Update on bridgework in Long Beach California
Ironworker’s progress re new Gerald Desmond Bridge 2018, have towers on both sides erected with first segments of road deck.
As photographed here, early Friday morning September 19th, 2018.
Notice the East Tower has both stiff leg derricks in place, ready to continue iron erection to both the main span and back span.
The long field beams , from fabricators located in Arizona, using big rig trucks attached with modified trailers. Hauled via caravans of three to four trucks at a time.
The caravan travel’s thru the Cajon Pass on the 15 fwy, then west on the 210 fwy and maneuver the South 605 fwy interchange, after which they all park in a line on the shoulder of the 605 freeway. This is a safe pull out just before the Irwindale Drag Strip exit, which has an unusually large shoulder off the side of the freeway.
That allows the California Highway Patrol to execute their escort plan for the rest of the journey to the Harbor Area job site. Makes for a sight, as this caravan continues on, surrounded by police stationed on both the sides, the front and rear of each load, leaving only one lane open for regular traffic to pass on by. This journey begins about 10 PM and ends with these trucks in positions at the bridge about 3 AM.
The West Tower on the Terminal Island side of the Gerald Desmond Bridge is in the process of erecting both of their stiff leg derricks as well.
Notice that there are some pipe column segments that have their removal work ongoing as well. That doesn’t take too long.
Also noteworthy is the progress of the work finalizing construction to the approaches on both sides of this bridge project. The east side crew is on their last pier to pier construction work and the west side is not far behind on their pier to pier construction. Here’s a shot taken on the west side’s work progress.
All in all, the work constructing this complicated task is nothing short of remarkable to witness and be a part of too. A true landmark in the making, generating great pride for all the participating trades. Surely generating legacies to come from a job like this. Safety is key, like regular, and as always, let’s successfully push forward with continued care for one another and build our West Coast landmark job. Very Cool indeed!
