Shrugging off the hampering delay of Tropical Storm Isaac, work by Tampa-based Orion Marine on the two fixed bridges on Boca Grande remains on schedule at Day 166 of the 630-day project as of Wednesday, Aug. 29.
Work is 26 percent complete.
"We lost four days total," said Jim Cooper, Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority executive director.
Article Photos
Work on the elevated South Bridge roadway begins this week.
Thursday and Friday, Aug. 23-24, was spent moving equipment and barges preparing for the storm. Monday was a weather day as the storm passed and Orion crews were back at work at 7 a.m. Tuesday repositioning barges and equipment.
Elevated road construction for the South Bridge on Gasparilla Island was to begin Friday but it started this week. Completion of the north roadway ramp is expected to take up to a month.
Islanders can gain an in-depth perspective of all the moving parts on the Swing Bridge at a workshop from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium.
Fact Box
To Go
What: GIBA workshop
When: 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 30
Where: Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium
Why: Swing Bridge Who: Open to the public
To Go
What: GIBA Board meeting
When: 1:30 p.m. Nov. 2
Where: Boca Grande Community Center Woman's Club Room
Why: Bridge replacement project
Who: Open to the public
Bridge construction keys
Prime contractor: Orion Marine Construction of Tampa
Start: Construction began March 12 on Center and South fixer bridges
South Bridge completion: March 2013
Center Bridge completion: December 2013
GIBA ad valorem milestones
April 25: Decided specific terms of property tax to be placed on ballot
July 9: File ballot language with county
Oct. 1: Toll increases to $6 per vehicle
Oct. 19: Official public notice of referendum
Nov. 6: Election Day
The finish date for the new South Bridge remains March 2013 and the completion date for the new Center Bridge remains December 2013.
Orion will use flagmen for a concrete pour from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. each Friday through October to complete all footings, columns and caps.
South Bridge progress notes
95 percent of the old South Bridge concrete sections have been recycled.
Orion's barge crews continue driving the water-based production pilings with expected completion in mid-September.
Orion's road crews continue work on the new concrete bulkhead walls.
New permanent sheet piling is now installed at the south area bulkhead wall. The north side bulkhead wall final concrete pour was complete Aug. 22.
South bulkhead work continues with installation of tieback dead men and the final concrete wall
Center Bridge progress notes
The second of five columns is complete. Each column is 7 feet in diameter and about 12-feet tall.
All Center Bridge primary structural support areas - footings, columns and caps - should be complete by mid-October.
One of five caps now complete. Caps rest on columns to provide structural support for four beams that support the Center Bridge deck. Each Center Bridge cap is custom designed. Caps are 37 feet long, 6 feet tall and 5 feet deep.
