Tampa-based Orion Marine is performing like a precision machine, according to Jim Cooper, Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority executive director.
"As you can see, despite losing four days due to Tropical Storm Isaac, Orion's professional marine construction teams remains on track and on schedule," Cooper said. "They are now 28 percent complete.
As of Wednesday on Day 173 of the 630-day project the two new fixed bridges on Boca Grande remain on schedule to come online as scheduled.
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Jim Cooper
Elevated road construction for the South Bridge on Gasparilla Island began last Friday. Completion of the north roadway ramp is expected to take up to a month.
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.
Fact Box
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
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 of last seven pilings in mid-September.
Orion's road crews continue work on the new concrete bulkhead walls. The first sections of the new bulkhead wall will be poured this week.
South bulkhead work continues with installation of tieback dead men and the final concrete wall.
Sand and rip-rap for north side of South Bridge arrives this week.
Center Bridge progress notes
Three of five footings are now complete. Orion pours the fourth footing next week.
The third and fourth of five columns will be poured this week and next. Each column is 7 feet in diameter and about 12-feet tall. The columns stand on the footings.
All Center Bridge primary structural support areas - footings, columns and caps - should be complete by mid-October.
One of five caps now complete. The second cap is being poured this week. 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.
