It will be something that welcomes everyone to the Magic City coming into town from the north...a pedestrian bridge crossing the new North Broadway. But a project as large as that requires lots of time and lots of space. Those two things are best found at night which is when the bridge went up last night. Perry Olson was there... (Perry Olson - KX News) There was a good reason for shutting down North Broadway early this morning maybe I should say a big reason. Two concrete beams weighing in at 135-thousand pounds a piece and stretching to 105 feet were ready for a ride in the sky. (Bob Allen - Project Engineer) You can't just take it lightly and they plan it out very well. (Perry Olson) With each beam weighing close to 70 tons and reaching across the width of the road it is easy to see why this job had to be done at night. (Bob Allen) The main reason is to minimize the traffic problems. It is also nice because the wind isn't strong and it makes it work well really. The process was pretty simple the work, however, was not. After maneuvering the massive beam into place it was time to bring in three cranes one able to lift 100 tons and get the beam securely locked in place. That job took over an hour but once everything was in place and the trailers were driven off all that weight was suspended and the trip up took just seconds. (Bob Allen) It takes lots of preplanning and the contractor has planned it out pretty well and you can see it is a multi step process to setting these beams. Now that the beams are set the work above the road will continue but people driving underneath will not be at risk. (Bob Allen) There is a protective canopy down below the beams in case something would drop it wouldn't come onto a car. The project will be hard to miss coming into town from the north and that was the goal to give people a way to cross Broadway on foot and provide and entrance to the city. (Bob Allen) I have said it will be like a gateway to the city because you can't miss it coming into the city from the north. It just took some early morning work to get it done. In Minot, Perry Olson, KX News. The work was to be done two nights ago but one of the trucks with the beams got stuck and had to be rescued with the help of a crane.
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Added: Dec 15, 2007 |
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