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Construction of the New Sunset Beach, NC, Bridge
Jo O'Keefe Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved
English Construction Company, Inc., Lynchburg, Virginia
Page 9
The new Sunset Beach
Bridge will be completed before the full project is completed. If
there are no complications, the bridge should open to vehicular traffic
in early October 2010. Dedication will be at 4 PM on October 1.
After the new bridge is open to traffic, the detour, the work bridge
and the old bridge will be removed. Causeway changes will be made. There
already is more marsh than there was with the original causeway. Still
more will develop when an additional portion of the old causeway is
removed. Catch basins on the island and mainland ends will capture run-off
from the bridge to prevent chemicals in it from polluting the water.
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January 19, 2010 | |
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Despite
the clutter of construction equipment, the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway
is brilliant.
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A
barge used to bring girders from the manufacturer's plant in Savannah,
Georgia
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The extra, yellow,
support columns were added when the center girders were being installed
across the 230-foot opening for boat traffic at the center of the bridge.
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Bridge work simultaneously
occurs at multiple places on the mainland and island side. Men are always
at alert, studying plans and watching equipment move into position.
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April 28, 2010
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Workmen
labor to center and attach a back-hoe to an I-beam or girder to lift
it.
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May 26, 2010 | |
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Welders at one
of the thousands of places requiring welding on the bridge.
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June 3, 2010
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Boat rushing under
unfinished portion of new bridge and through open Pontoon Bridge
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Final portion
of new bridge awaiting last four girders
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230-foot center
span of new Sunset Beach Bridge. One of the large footings with six
drill shafts to support it is shown on the right. Additional support
was needed to prevent breakage from boats
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Another photo
of the center span with the Pontoon Bridge back in place for vehicular
traffic
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The last stretch
of the new Sunset Beach Bridge needing girders with a barge that will
be used for the second crane necessary to position the girders shown
on right
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