Rainy Aftermath

So on the new project I'm working on, we are doing tons of drainage stuff and well, rain is not good.

This is supposed to be a check dam and the water isn't supposed to be flowing.... oops. This caused for flooding in a different part of the project. Serious problems on this site.

Taken Wednesday August 7th.

Dangerous Weather

On Wednesday, our dirt work operations were stopped due to the rain. Then, as you'll see in the video, our crane work was stopped due to lightning.

(And yes, that was a seriously lucky shot. I was just recording rain and bam!)

Counterweights

I love counterweights. I was enamored when I saw the big boom under the bridge. I stared and stared at how it was possible that such a small machine held the weight of an entire hydraulic scaffold under half the length of a bridge. It was so heavy, and yet it moved on it's own power! I wish I had pictures. It was marvelous.

Today, another awesome machine was used on site. It took probably 30 minutes just to set up, but I watched this crane travel on the highway and transform into a beautiful weight-lifting marvel.

It's lifted off of the ground. I wish I understood completely the mechanics to why it needed to be lifted off the ground. How it is possible that those four pillars are suspending it and all the weight? I kept wondering why they put down those metal squares (which, what are those made of?) and I know see it's to distribute the weight. Gahhhh does my college offer a course in just hydrallics and counterweight systems?!

I wish I had footage of the entire pipe installation process using the crane, but alas, I would be deemed weird. Some of the goodies of construction will be kept in my eyes only.

(This was taken when the boom was raised from parallel with the ground to in the air, right as the machine starts to set up.)

I Saw a Saw

Sights and sounds of construction.

That dust is really terrible for your lungs and he should have breathing protection. Dust is everywhere on projects.

Taken July 2nd, 2013. Saw cutting the new concrete approaches for rubber joint pouring.

Safety

This is an iron worker on a structure, but you get the point. It's literally like this everyday. One mistake because you are too distracted or because you've done it 1000x a day, and bam. Death.

"A paycheck don't do you any good if you're dead."

Safety matters: Proper training, proper equipment, and proper technique at all times.


Today, I almost pulled out in front of a car going 70 mph. I just wasn't paying attention. Later in the day, a car in the construction zone was going 50 mph and almost ran into me as I was standing outside of my car. He saw my car, but not me. Luckily I saw him in time, and dodged. Always be aware of your surroundings.

Loading

The sights and sounds of construction. Remember that just moving things around to load and unload take time and special equipment. Construction takes a while, because it just has to sometimes. There's a lot more involved than people think.

Also, that woman should be wearing a helmet as per MIOSHA standards. Hardly anyone wears a helmet on this site.

Profiling

Whenever the police come around it's great. Lots of people slow down and give us plenty of space. Yet, some people, if they don't see the cop, are still speeding. But the cop doesn't stop them, they go merrily on their way. Why? It becomes obvious after a few state troopers that they aren't here for the speeding tickets, they are here for the drug busts.

Yet until like the speed gun, there is no drug gun. There is no way of telling who has drugs until you pull them over. People sometimes forget that when they hear about these great big drug busts on the news; a lot of people were pulled over to get that one drug smuggler.

A white dirt worker said it perfectly today, and it struck me in a certain profound way, especially for how politically incorrect most construction workers are:
"Damn, I wish dem cops start pulling over people speedin'. I understand they out here catchin' people carryin' drugs, but it makes me sick to watch 'em. Just last week I seen dem pull over 20 cars. But you know how they pick 'em? They pick the hippies, and the blacks. The mexcians too. I seen them take out the dogs on 'em and sniff their car all over. Almost all of them have campin' supplies with 'em. I wish they'd pull over a rich white person. Damn it ain't right. It just ain't right." 

 

This is a video of the traffic on I-94. Spoiler, they won't slow down.

Joys of the River

Sights and sounds of construction.

Working on the river is great. Cool, breezy, beautiful.

Taken June 5, 2013. Quartz aggregate being removed by a CAT941 after first coat of a thin epoxy application.

Rolling Epoxy

Sights and sounds of construction.

Watching them roll epoxy on the overpass deck on a windy day.

(From 6/28/2013)

Rainy Day

The sights and sounds of construction.

When it rains, it pours. The mud sucks your steel toes down into the muck. Tires bigger than you slip and slide with grinding motors into the slippery abyss. But most of all, it's cold, wet, and no one wants to work.

Sitting and waiting for it to finish and work to resume.