Marking progress: Stadium bridges reconstruction gets first concrete pour
The new Stadium bridges are taking shape, now that the first concrete pour has taken place at the massive reconstruction project.
City of Ann Arbor
Drive by what used to be Ann Arbor's East Stadium bridges, and you're likely to see work crews, heavy equipment and barricades.
But something you may not realize is also part of the scene, as of this week: It's another step toward the conclusion of the $22.8 million reconstruction in the form of one key ingredient.
Concrete.
The first concrete pour at the site took place on Tuesday, and the city immortalized the event in photos and video, posting one view to its Facebook page to track bridge progress.
We thought our readers might find the images interesting, too.
The work took place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, when crews were pouring the west abutment footing for the South State Street Bridge. It continues this week - at least through Thursday.
Work will be suspended Friday while President Barack Obama visits the University of Michigan campus. He'll speak at the Al Glick Fieldhouse, just north of the construction zone.
The bridges will be closed to the public for most of 2012. According to a previous report: The project schedule says Stadium will reopen to traffic Nov. 14, but city officials have said it might not be until December. Here are the short videos showing the action:
Comments
ruminator
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 3:46 a.m.
What a waste of money. A simple grade crossing is all that was needed for one train a day.
OLDTIMER3
Thu, Jan 26, 2012 : 7:29 p.m.
Cement is one of the ingredients in concrete sand and gravel also.
OLDTIMER3
Thu, Jan 26, 2012 : 7:32 p.m.
oops and water,didn't see the other post by Frank D before I posted.
Paula Gardner
Thu, Jan 26, 2012 : 3:01 a.m.
Appreciate the concrete lesson. I just made the correction in the headline and article.
Frank D
Thu, Jan 26, 2012 : 3:52 a.m.
I couldn't help myself; it's the engineer in me. Otherwise, thanks for posting the videos; they were enjoyable.
Frank D
Thu, Jan 26, 2012 : 12:39 a.m.
Cement is the component in concrete that binds everything together. Concrete is composed of cement, sand, stone, and water. So, the article should say "concrete pour" instead of "cement pour".
Are you serious?
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 11:45 p.m.
Consider this post as the start of a petition to the city to mount a webcam somewhere in the vicinity of this project so we can watch our millions of tax dollars at work! It would would probably only raise the cost 0.001%. Probably be nice to have a webcam on 5th Street so we all know when it is finally open.
Ann Arbor Bridges
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 10:44 p.m.
Yes folks, it is concrete.
a2guy1974
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 10:32 p.m.
actually, i kinda liked the videos.
JimW
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 10:04 p.m.
Cement is a gray powder. When it is mixed with water and aggregates, it becomes concrete. It is a common mistake for people of use "cement" when they really mean "concrete".
Alan Goldsmith
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 10:02 p.m.
So it is concrete or cement? And when can we look forward to AnnArbor.com's next video featuring concrete being poured? We actually pay someone with our tax dollar to document this stuff and then post it for the eager media to pass along as news? Fascinating!
Ron Granger
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 8:45 p.m.
I just hope the DDA isn't involved in this project. If so, we'll probably all have flying cars before it is completed.
Enso
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 8:30 p.m.
There is a difference between cement and concrete.
smokeblwr
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 9:45 p.m.
Go on.....