220
Cruisin' Guzzisti
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2008
- Messages
- 348
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Nov 04, 08, 04:05:52 PM
A New Trucking Company has been brought in to move the girders and Contruction on HWY 2 has resumed!
I talked with Dan today. He is in charge of moving the girders. They are working feverishly to get the girders in and in place by the end of this week. Dan told me they have come up with a better idea for moving the girders so as to prevent what happened a few weeks ago. He said the first one will take the longest as they want to get it right and will be extra careful. He hopes they will get faster with experience and perhaps get 2 girders a day in place. He said the damaged girder has already been replaced with a brand new one and is waiting to be transported through Wrightwood to be assembled at Vincent Gap like the others were. He gave the impression that they would move the girders to Vincent Gap fairly soon as soon as they moved the 5 other girders into place at the construction zone.
I also talked to Bob, the Supervisor of the Company that is building the bridge. He told me that they have acquired this new Trucking company to move the girders. Bob said: "These guys are serious". Bob told me that it would be six weeks before the new replacement girder could be moved into place as it has to have a proper curing time.
As I left Vincent Gap around 3 pm, they were still hooking up the first girder in preparation for the move. According to Bob they are planning on moving it today, even working into the night to get it done. They have brought in light standards so as to work at night. Bob told me he was hoping they were going to just get it ready to move and then come back tomorrow to actually move it, but it seemed they were bent on doing it tonight. Bob, Dan and other supervisors were having a pow-wow about it when I left.
THE ROAD IS CLOSED!
You cannot get to Vincent Gap as the road is closed. I had some hikers park in turn outs and ask if they could walk on over to the Baden Powell trail to hike. I told them I didn't have a problem with it but asked them to be very careful and stay very clear of the crane and heavy equipment.
I ask Bob if he had any problems with people trying to get into the area past the closure. He told me he hadn't and said that everyone seemed to be understanding and cooperative.
I get the impression that they are going to finish this road before the end of the year, even in the snow. If the road is finished in inclimate weather I doubt it will open to the public, but they want to get it finished. I think the $4,000+ a day fine since October 12th might have something to do with that.
The forth girder is now in place. They were going to load the last girder on the dollies this afternoon to be moved on Monday, but because there is a front moving through the area tonight with possible high winds and precipitation, they elected to wait until Monday.
As of Monday all 5 girders will be in place. The new girder that will replace the one that was destroyed will be delivered on Wednesday. It will be assembled at the installation site.
In talking to Bob, this road is going to be finished in December, inclement weather or not.
120,000 lbs of counter weight was needed on the 500 Ton crane to perform this feat. The girders are not secured to the pad they sit on. They just rest upon it so they can move during an earthquake. It isn't as if they are going anywhere. There are cables that will secure the top of the girder to the road.
The contractor says the road is going to be finished in December, inclement weather or not.
Indeed! I look forward to it!We shall organize a ceremonial SoCalGuzi Crossing.
Todd can say a few words, pour Grappa at the bridge entry.
Crest, rebirth shall be celebrated. Holy Holy Holy.
We shall organize a ceremonial SoCalGuzi Crossing.
Todd can say a few words, pour Grappa at the bridge entry.
Crest, rebirth shall be celebrated. Holy Holy Holy.
Jan 21, 09, 12:42:57 AM
Well, has anyone got any news or updates on the Highway? Is it open to the public? Can we at least hike down the highway to the new bridge?
Reply on: Jan 21, 09, 03:19:26 PM
The "NO Pedestrians Allowed" signs have been gone for sometime. As long as you stay out of the way, I doubt they'll give you any problems with hiking in and taking a look.
Haven't had a look for a couple of weeks, but the bridge should be pretty close to finished. I doubt they'll open it to traffic though until the spring.