The contractor has spent the last week ticking off the remaining work on the abutments in preparation for shifting focus to erection of the bridge.
Specific tasks include ground anchor testing, grouting blockouts, welding micropiles to the abutments, and placing backfill around the thermosiphon lateral piping. Work on the abutments is expected to conclude by the end of this month.
The other major item that must be completed prior to erection is the launch platform, which is in progress. All the foundation elements for the platform are now in place and crews have begun installation of the framing members that will comprise the platform (one example of which is shown in the photo below).
Framing member that will support a launch beam. Photo Courtesy to FHWA/BGC
The framing member shown in the picture (the “grade beam” closest to the east abutment) will support the massive “launch beam” that will directly support the bridge. The launch beam will be fabricated from a steel wide-flange section (commonly referred to as an I-beam) that will stand 41 inches tall, is 18 inches wide, and will have 3-1/2 inch thick flanges (the top and bottom of the I) and an almost 2-inch thick web (the vertical potion of the I).
single running foot of this wide-flange section weighs 652 pounds, so each of these nearly 80-foot long beams will weigh in at just over 50,000 pounds.