Saturday, April 30th - Campus Site Capped

• Getting a strong commitment from a number of dedicated individuals allowed us to rent a Partner saw for the day, which made quick work of cutting the remainder of the cap stones for the retaining wall.  So quick, in fact, that we ran out of cap stones.  All available stones have been fitted, and we are waiting on IEEE, in conjunction with the Campus Space and Allocation Committee, to complete the design of the lighting for the bridge before we epoxy the caps down.

Thursday, April 28th - Installation

• After an initial mix-up with the 40 ton crane showing up a few hours early, the installation of the bridge was quick and painless.  Both the bridge and the crane showed up slightly before noon, and within a half hour, the bridge was sitting squarely atop its new home.  The metal bearing plates that the bridge sits atop have since been grouted in, and all that remains is to bolt the bridge down and design, fab, and install the stairs, which will happen this fall.

Tuesday, April 22nd - Progress!

• After a last minute push to complete the form work for the legs, we now have the concrete placed for all 4 columns.  The 40 ton crane arrived at 7 am, and the cement truck and truck delivering the cement bucket both arrived right at 8 am.  And by 9 am, it was all over, a mere 6 hours after the form work had been finished with the aid of work lights. 
   

Saturday, April 16th - Shredded

• A few scrapes and scratches couldn't slow us down as we shredded the huge piles of brush that we cut down to provide a better view of the bridge from both US 30 and the library.  This gives us one more thing to cross off our never ending list. 
   

Wednesday, April 6th - Work has restarted for the Spring!

• After waiting out what was hopefully the last bit of cold weather for the year, work has begun on the campus site.  The retaining wall itself has been filled with drainage rock, and the brush is being cleared from both sides of the bridge, so that it can been seen more clearly from both the library and US 30.  The majority of the cap stones for the wall are also going to be cut and epoxied into placed this week.  Someone should be out at the bridge most any day after 4.30 pm on weekdays, and most of the day on Saturdays.  Work is also beginning on the Vineyard site this weekend with the preparations of the existing footers for use with the new supports we will be pouring for the bridge.  Finally, we are always looking for more help, so if you want to get involved with the project, its never too late.  Please contact Derek Snyder so you can get up to speed with the workdays coming up.
   

Monday, March 28th - DNR

• After much help from DLZ, and not much help from the Department of Natural Resources, we have finally have (hopefully) the last outstanding permit approved for placing the replacement bridge over Salt Creek.  Expect to see a flurry of work in the coming weeks.  And with the weather starting to slowly edge towards what might be considered warm, we will finally be scrub out the undergrowth on the campus site in the very near future, as well as a whole host of other finish work (backfilling the exterior of the wall, cap stones on the wall, the list goes on and on).  Watch this space, as things should start to happen in the final push for completion.
   

Wednesday, February 9th - No News is Not Bad News

• As we're currently in the middle of the winter, it shouldn't be that big of a surprise that work has slowed down, but take care to note it hasn't stopped completely.  Much planning is being done and many materials are being sourced in anticipation of the weather warming up enough for work to begin anew in the coming weeks.
   

Wednesday, December 15th - Backfilled

• In a final push in the middle of finals week, the west ramp was backfilled with sand.  With three full dump truck loads of sand from GE Marshall, Prof. Mack at the helm of a Bobcat, and a number of students with shovels, including our two newly graduated students, Brett Iafigliola and Kristine Martin, the ramp was backfilled and compacted by days end.
   

Tuesday, December 7th - Website News

• In a bit of uniquely web related news, we are working on revamping the photo gallery, as it has now ballooned to over 1000 pictures.  The existing full gallery will remain, but a new gallery will added which will be more concise in the images of the project it presents.  Once finished, over the course of the next few weeks, the new gallery should be much easier to pursue.
   

Saturday, November 20th - Retaining Wall Finished

• Early Saturday morning, the last stone was laid on the west wall, completing the month long work on the two walls.  But as ever, there is still lots to be done.  The walls have been set, but they still need to be backfilled, capped, light, and landscaped. 
   

Monday, October 18th - Retaining Wall Work

• Work continues  on the east retaining wall.  For the foreseeable future, we plan to be out at the bridge site every day starting at 4 pm.   To quote Brett Iafigliola, our de facto project manager, "If you're free earlier, chances are good that someone is out there then too. And, if for some outlandish reason that there is no work that day, the worst that can happen is that you'd wander all the way out there, only to gaze upon the bridge and turn back." 

Saturday, October 9th - Student Bridge in the News Again

• The Student Bridge is in the news again!  The Post-Tribune did a nice write up on the project, giving a overview of the history of the bridge, and the current state of the project. 

• The Student "Kissing" Bridge Presentation for those Alumni back for homecoming weekend was a huge success!  There were many alumni who had fond memories of the bridge.  There was a 30 minute presentation on the history of the bridge, and on the project itself, followed by a walking tour of the bridge, which had it's final handrail installed just hours before (the decking had been installed over the previous few days).

Wednesday, October 6th - Deck Work

• Work continues on the bridge.  The feet of the bridge have been sealed to the foundations with grout, and work continues on replanking the bridge.  The railings for the bridge are also being prepared, and the sight is being generally cleaned up in anticipation of homecoming.

Saturday, September 25th - The Student Bridge in the news! 

• A brief blurb on the bridges return to campus ran today in the Times.

Friday, September 24th

• The bridge has returned to campus after 37 years of absence!  The bridge was placed on its new footings, and brings to a close one segment of the project.  But much much more remains to be done!  The bridge needs to be redecked with lumber, the approaches to the bridge need to be built, lit, and landscaped, and this is not even getting to the replacement bridge for Vineyard.  Please contact Brett Iafigliola if you are interested in getting involved with the project, as there is lots left to do!