NYCs Busy Kosciuszko Bridge to be Imploded Summer 2017

The 78 year-old Kosciuszko Bridge connecting Greenpoint, Brooklyn to Maspeth, Queens is being replaced with two new spans slated for completion in 2020. New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced last month that part of the span will be imploded in order to expedite the demolition portion of the project.

The Kosciuszko Bridge was designed to carry about 10,000 vehicles a day when it first opened in 1939. Today an estimated 185,000 vehicles use the bridge daily. The old truss bridge will be replaced by two new cable-stayed spans, one in each direction. All traffic will be diverted in April 2017 from the old bridge to the future eastbound span, the first the two spans to be completed. The second span will open in 2020 to westbound traffic.

Demolition of old truss the bridge will take place in two phases. In April or May, the 2,400-ton center section will be cut and rigged over the course of 48 hours onto two barges in the Newtown Creek. The two remaining sections, which total about three-quarters of a mile, will be demolished this summer by implosion, which will speed up the project by seven to nine months, according to Gov. Cuomo.

The announcement that explosives would be used for demolition set off contamination concerns among local residents, but state officials say that demolition contractors are taking all necessary precautions to prevent the release of hazardous particles into the already-polluted environment. The implosion is expected to draw a large crowd, with the Queens Chamber of Commerce holding an event in celebration of the demolition of the bridge.

R. Baker & Son - All Industrial Services
190 Boundary Road
Marlboro, NJ 07746

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732-222-3553

Foul Weather Rigging

Adverse weather conditions can make or break a rigging operation. Wind, rain, snow, cold weather, fog, and lightning can all have a detrimental effect on crane and rigging operations and should be taken into thorough consideration on every lift. 

Wind
All cranes have a maximum wind speed at which rigging operations can take place, and most manufacturers provide guidelines for their equipment. If this information is not available, rigging should not place if winds are near or above 20 mph. Load dimensions and wind direction are important to take into consideration as well. 

Cold
Rigging in cold weather has limitations, as low temperatures can affect crane components such as hydraulics and rigging equipment, and can even reduce tensile strength of the crane if temperatures are extremely cold. Load weights should be reduced depending on temperatures, and rigging should suspended altogether in extreme subzero conditions. Cranes regularly operated in cold climates can be outfitted with special parts, finishes and systems to guard against failure.  

Lightning
A crane boom can become a lightning rod in extreme weather conditions, so rigging activities should be suspended if lightning develops. Booms should be lowered and/or retracted to a safe position and rigging personnel should vacate the area. Cranes that are struck by lightning must be thoroughly inspected before returning to service. 

Rain
Water can infiltrate crane components including brakes clutches during heavy rain, particularly when it is wind-driven, so rigging activities should be suspended under these conditions. Heavy rains can undermine foundations, as well. 

R. Baker & Son - All Industrial Services
732-222-3553http://rbaker.com/rigging-services.php