Category: People

Eric Faulkner Operating Engineer

Posted on by Nick Roberts
Eric Faulkner in the forklift on the bridge.
Eric Faulkner, Operating Engineer, in the forklift on the bridge.

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Toady’s image is of Eric Faulkner an Operating Engineer on the Ohio River Bridges Project. Downtown Span. I chose this image because I like the composition and the way Eric can be seen in the cab of the forklift while in the background the louisville skyline is seen through the window. The narrow slot where Eric can be seen and the fact that it takes a second to see him in there are both elements that draw me to this photo.

Eric is one of those people who are often overlooked when observing a construction job like this. Because he is inside a machine such as this forklift he becomes simply another part of the scene. His expertise with all manner of heavy equipment makes him an invaluable part of the day to day tasks that must be accomplished in order for the work to progress in a timely manner. Not only is Eric responsible for operating this forklift he also has the task of operating the two job cranes located on top of the bridge towers on Pier Three. He often has to climb the 300 feet of scaffolding several times a day to get to the top of one of the towers to lift material for the people working on the cable stay gang. Imagine climbing 30 stories to get to the top of one of the towers to run the jib crane then having to climb back down and then climb up the other tower just to operate that jib crane for a few minutes. Along with that role he may need to also climb into the forklift and move material around the bridge deck between times he is on top of the towers.

R.I.P. Chris Bixenman 1958-2015

Posted on by Nick Roberts

Following his heroic fight with prostate cancer Chris Bixenman passed away August 20, 2015. Dixon-Rogers Funeral Home in Magnolia KY is in charge of the arrangements.

Chris Bixenman and his wolf hybrid Montana.#1
Chris Bixenman and his wolf hybrid Montana at work on the Ohio River Bridges Project in Louisville Kentucky July 2, 2014
Chris Bixenman and his wolf hybrid Montana.
Wherever you see the Bixenman Equipment Repair truck you’ll see Chris and his wolf hybrid Montana.
Chris Bixenman and his wolf hybrid Montana.
Chris Bixenman and his wolf hybrid Montana.
Chris Bixenman and his wolf hybrid Montana.#2
Chris Bixenman and his wolf hybrid Montana.#2

Surveyors William Moylan and Garran Wesseman

Posted on by Nick Roberts

JNR_06_26_2015_105114_William and Garron_#2_HDR

 

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In this photo William Moylan is working with Garran Wesseman who is standing on the right hand end of a side girder on Tower Three of the Downtown Span of the Ohio River Bridges Project. This was the first section of the downtown span that was attached to Tower Three and marked another milestone in the construction timeline. After this section was placed all three towers were supporting sections of the new bridge.

The surveyors continuously monitor the placement of the bridge components in order to make sure that the bridge is staying true to the design specifications. Their survey equipment is all electronic and communicates the measurements to the surveyors and engineers in real time so that the decisions they make are accurate.

William Moylan talks with his partner Garren Wesseman as they measure the placement of the side girder and road girders of the downtown span.
William Moylan talks with his partner Garran Wesseman as they measure the placement of the side girder and road girders of the downtown span.

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William Moylan at work.
William Moylan at work.

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Cutting a stay cable for the downtown span of the Ohio River Bridges Project in Louisville, KY. B&W Version

Ironworkers At Work On The Ohio River Bridges Project Downtown Span

Posted on by Nick Roberts

Several HDR and B&W photos from the Ohio River Bridges Project and the Ironworkers at work adding another section to the Downtown Span.

Pile driving crew placing a piling section for welding before driving further into the earth. #3

Pile Drivers Working at Preston and Jefferson Streets

Posted on by Nick Roberts
Pile driving crew placing a piling section for welding before driving further into the earth. #4
Pile driving crew placing a piling section for welding before driving further into the earth. #4

Most of  these images are of the pile drivers working at Preston and Jefferson Streets as they rebuild Spaghetti Junction in Louisville, KY. These guys drive seventy feet long H-beams into the earth to support the foundation for the retaining walls and bridge abutments of the roadway for the Ohio River Bridges Project.

Most of these images of pile drivers working are HDR images created using a three frame bracket set of +2, 0 and -2 EV exposures. They were merged in NIK HDR Efex Pro 2 and then finished using Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop CS5. The light was pretty flat the day I was shooting these photos. Using HDR techniques allowed me to capture the scenes and reveal the details and textures that might have otherwise escaped capture in a single exposure.