This weekend was full of blood, sweat, and tears (of joy). This was the weekend we completed the frame for the Ardmore bridge.
Friday, September 16, 2023. Time: 1:00pm.
CDs for Singleton Park are on pause. We needed all hands on deck to complete the bridge by Sunday afternoon. It was crucial to divide and conquer to meet the deadline for this Wednesday’s upcoming installation.
T MINUS 49 HOURS.
What was our game plan you might ask:
Saturday- morning shift, and afternoon shift. Sunday– everyone until 2pm.
Friday, September 16, 2023. Time: 3:37pm.
While pondering our plan we decided it wasn’t giving. We wanted to try to finish by Saturday, so we could at least have 1 day off. We decided we are staying up all night. The goal? To get both portions of the bridge set up and ready to weld on Saturday morning.
Saturday, September 17, 2023. Time: 12:30am. ZZZzzz
After hours of welding, measuring, and bolting, it was time to call it a night.
T MINUS 30 HOURS.
Saturday, September 17, 2023. Time: 8:00am. Time to get this bridge done.
As the morning crew arrived, we completed setting up the frame. Although the frame wasn’t completed done Friday night, we were satisfied with all we got done. All that was left was to stick the rods in, and level the railings.
Saturday, September 17, 2023. Time: 10:30am. “Wait.. i think we might be done?”
Placing the steel rods was the next task.
As we finished the rods and placed the railings, we then realized, the bracing wasn’t level on the second bridge. This was frustrating for all of us, as we had to go back through and loosen all of the bolts to shift the bracing as close to perfect as we could get it. While welding and grinding happened on the first portion of the bridge, the rest of us worked on shifting the bracing on the second portion.
Saturday, September 17, 2023. Time: 2:00pm. Here comes the afternoon crew.
Not being in the afternoon shift, I left. The only tasks that were left were welding and shifting bracing.
Saturday, September 17, 2023. Time: 5:45pm. The bridge is complete.
20 hours ahead of schedule, we finished the bridge. Everyone came back to help move the bridge to the parking lot.
Big shoutout to Staci Knighton and Maddi Riester for their patience and guidance through this process!!!!! We couldn’t have done it without you!
Now… we celebrate.
