There is a 1920s vertical lift drawbridge that spans from Kittery, ME (where I live) to Portsmouth, NH. Unfortunately, the two states deferred maintenance to the point where it can't be saved. It's currently being demolished and will be replaced. Last week, the 230-ft center span, which was lifted vertically to allow ships to pass, was removed. They rigged a barge with hydraulic jacks and set it under the span. As the tide came in, the whole thing lifted a little and slackened the cables. They cut the cables and guides at all four corners simultaneously with torches (pretty fun to watch). When it was free, tug boats pulled the span away from the bridge.
The whole thing was pretty amazing. A lot of very careful planning, and they only had one shot. This river has the world's second strongest current, but is tidal, so it reverses twice a day. This had to be done at slack tide.
Anyway, below are a few of the photos I took.
Barge and tugs in place.
Cutting the guides that kept the span in its tracks.
Cutting the cables (you can see them slack in the near corner of the span).
The span being pulled out.
Free of the bridge, being moved to the pier.
This is the next day. The span was moved through the gap it once spanned.
Docked next to the remains of the bridge.
Topic: Drawbridge disassembly (Read 182 times)