The Sunnyside Bridge project   -  A bridge over troubled waters.

By Ed Sharpe Glendale Daily Planet. (C) 2008

(Media buddies if you need any of this email me and  I can send you some Hi -Res Photos and credit info.)
This article will continue to evolve and there will be a  slide show to go with it we - shot 250 photos!

To a person on foot or on house the span across the this canal is a great as the distance of the grand canyon.

The Sunnyside Bridge project came to the attention of the City in 2004 via the Glendale Equestrian Club, who were seeking a safe way to cross the SRP Canal to gain access to the Thunderbird Paseo Linear Park and the 110 miles of the Sun Circle Trail system.  The project is at 50th Avenue and Sunnyside Drive.

Roger Boyer, the project coordinator form Glendale Parks and Recreation tell us, "The Sunnyside Bridge project is extremely unusual for the Glendale Parks and Recreation Department in that the project itself is fully funded by others and the City of Glendale is just responsible for ongoing maintenance, as with any other project that we do.  Our Grants Administrator, Paula Moloff, did an exceptional job in helping Glendale citizens acquire a much needed trail access point that greatly expands their recreational opportunities as well as significantly increasing their trail use safety".

Paula Moloff, Glendale Grants Administrator, creatively partnered the City's needs with the Bureau of Reclamation, whose land the project would be on, and the Arizona State Parks Heritage Trail grant program which assists governmental agencies in creating trail opportunities for hikers, bikers, and equestrian use. Aside from upkeep the bridge did not  cost  the City of Glendale anything!

Travis Weber, President of Weber Services,  the engineering company for the project emphasized, 

"The most challenging aspect of this project was the fact that we did not actually see the bridge itself until it arrived onsite today.  This required great attention to detail.  While constructing the concrete abutments we were very careful to check and re-check all dimensions.  The eight bolts that connect the bridge to the abutments are not adjustable as they were installed directly into the concrete while it was being poured.  There was no room for error.  We managed to set the bridge perfectly in place on the first attempt with the help of a very large crane. "

Travis Weber         

Travis continued, "

Travis concluded, "Everything turned out to be a success.  Weber Services, Inc. really enjoyed working with Centennial Contractors and the City of Glendale.  We also appreciate all the positive support we received from the local residents on a daily basis.  This bridge will be a welcome addition to all of the pedestrians, equestrians, and cyclists who enjoy the canal pathways. "

The truck that brought the bridge in.

(L to R)  Roger Boyer - Project Coordinator, Glendale Parks & Recreation Department, Paula Moloff, Glendale Grants Administrator, Karen Hesser -  Deputy Parks and Recreation Director and Eugene Kraus Park Manager, both with the city of Glendale

The Excel Bridge Company, in California, constructed the 12' X 70' Bowed Truss Bridge structure and trucked it to Glendale.  Centennial Construction coordinated completion of the bridge footings, the crane rental, bridge installation, and the construction of 125 feet of ADA compliant trail that will bring citizens from street level at 50th Avenue & Sunnyside Drive up the SRP canal bank to the bridge location.

• Each bridge abutment has 40 yards of concrete and the footings go down 20 feet into the earth to anchor the bridge
• The bridge is 27,000 pounds, and 12' X 70', all steel construction
• The finish is a naturally rusted top coat that is applied to the sealed steel.  The rust won't ever reach the structural steel components
• The crane that was needed for this job was brought up from Tucson because there are very few of this type of cranes in the State and this project had very specific lift requirements
• The total project cost will be about $220,000 and is expected to be ready for public use by about the end of July

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TALK TO ME WITH YOUR HANDS!

       
1.  raise boom                                                        2.  raise boom                                   3.  lower boom 

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HAND SIGNALS ARE THE  PERSON ON THE GROUNDS METHOD OF COMMUNICATING WITH THE CRANE OPERATOR AND ARE ESSENTIAL!

 

                
1.  Hoist Slowly                                 2.  Hoist     

 

 

    3.  Stop

Notice the rigger and the crane operator have their eyes on each other throughout the entire process.

 

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Karen Hesser Deputy parks and Recreation Director and

Eugene Kraus Park Manager, both with the city of Glendale
look on in anticipation as the  bridge  makes it's final decent into it's mountings.

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City of Glendale Parks and Recreation - http://www.glendaleaz.com/ParksandRecreation/ 

Information about Weber Services, Inc., please visit their website at www.weberservices.com. 

Centennial Contractors Enterprises, Inc, http://www.cce-inc.com

Crane From  Southwest Industrial Rigging  - Home of the largest cranes in Arizona http://www.swirusa.com/index.html

General construction hand signals with a sample  training film you can watch  there are NOT crane specific.  http://www.vista-start-smart.com/html/hand_signals_for_construction.html 

Crane hand signal chart you can buy if you need one 5' x 5' meanwhile enjoy the little picture of the hand signals here. http://www.maxboom.com/hand_signals.htm  

A You Tube Movie about  crane hand signals http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqbl7luTRgE&feature=related .

Crane From  Southwest Industrial Rigging  - Home of the largest cranes in Arizona http://www.swirusa.com/index.html

By Ed Sharpe Glendale Daily Planet. (C) 2008

(Media buddies if you need any of this email me and  I can send you some Hi -Res Photos and credit info.)