Third Avenue Bridge Renovation Pictures from Week Ending November 12

Submitted by Mill District resident Doug Verdier

The Third Avenue Bridge project continues with interesting activity everywhere. A major event was the erection of a fourth tower crane above one of the piers near the mid point of the bridge span. Other sections saw continuation of concrete replacement on both piers and bridge deck. Work continues into evening hours most nights under the lights. Some highlights of the past week are shown.

Forms are in place awaiting pouring of new concrete on the side of the pier near West River Parkway. Above the forms you can see where the old roadbed of the bridge has been removed from atop the steel girders.

Removal of bridge deck sections exposes the spandrels that provide support for the deck. Spandrels are also being replaced as part of the reconstruction.

The base section of the fourth tower crane that was put in place on the bridge this week can be seen in the center of the photo above. Sections of the new tower were hoisted into place by the yellow crane to the left of the red tower base section.

With all sections of the new tower in place, workers on top of the tower await the yellow crane to lift the control section into place. Sections of the crane’s horizontal components can be seen to the left of the crane as they are being unloaded from a truck.

The control module of the crane is being lifted to workers atop the tower where it will be installed. The horizontal arm of the crane will then be lifted into place. That portion of the assembly operation took place the following morning.

Ta-da! The fourth crane assembled and being checked out before going into full service.

And then there were four. The newest addition is third from left (West side of the river). It was in full service by mid-week.