Week Four

On Thursday, we started making the pads. The pads are at the end of the bridge where the roadbed connects, almost like a support system, so clearly the pads are extremely important. To make them, we had to dig holes and then fill them with concrete. Unfortunately, on Thursday, we ran out of concrete, so we had to stop there, but that didn't stop us for long. On Friday, a team of eight kids went out and continued making and pouring cement as the rest of us constucted the initial frame for the roadbed. In case you were wondering, the roadbed is what hangs from the towers and is what Mr. Bergen has to walk across once we finish construction.

Week Three

Monday, our class took a little break to make skateboards. After that, we continued the bridge and started to build the roadbed trusses. Floor trusses are the beams on either side of to support the plywood. Once we finish that, we started the construction of the roadbed.

Week Two

On Monday, the class started the construction of the two towers. These towers are the support system for the entire bridge itself. Thursday, once the towers were made the class started to put them up and is working so fast that they will be up by Friday. After the towers are up, all that's left is the roadbed and the cables. We are planning to start the roadbed on Monday, and hopefully finish it within two weeks after that. Once they finish that, we have to put the cables up and build a ramp. They might have a chance to paint it, but in lieu of time they might not. Remember, they have to destroy this entire bridge before the end of the year is up, yet after Mr. Bergen walks across it. With only about five weeks of school left, both classes are rushing to get this bridge put up, but with two entire classes of about twenty two students in each, there's no need to rush. Something that takes a few people an entire day to do takes one class about an hour and a half. More will come Monday once the towers are up, the roadbed is started, and the pictures come in!

The Design

After going through many bridge designs, some bad and some good, Mr. Bergen made his decision on the winning entry. Jack Willis designed the best bridge, a huge forty foot long cable-stay bridge with two towers on either end. Immediately, our class began working on the bridge. With the help of Mr. Bergen and Mr. Laughlin, we dug holes, cut big concrete cylinders, and mixed concrete. Then we put the five sonotubes in the holes, and put the main/grounding beams into them, and poured in the concrete to support it. After that, we started the construction of the towers. More to come later with pictures!