After a busy couple of days of installations of major components on the new Johnson Street Bridge, the B次元官网网址 caught up with project director, Jonathon Huggett for his thoughts on the undertaking as it draws closer to completion.
Huggett was first brought in by Victoria city council in 2014 to review the troubled project, after it became apparent that substantial problems existed within the structure and administration of the large-scale capital work. After delivering what some characterized at the time as a scathing review, Huggett was invited to take it over.
B次元官网网址淧erhaps I should have just kept my mouth shut,B次元官网网址� he laughed at the memory. B次元官网网址淭his has been a challenge, certainly. ItB次元官网网址檚 always better to do something right from the start, rather than coming in fixing up mistakes.B次元官网网址�
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But Huggett has nothing but praise for the existing team with whom heB次元官网网址檚 working on the final stages of construction.
PCL has brought in experts from all over North America who have done this kind of work before, he said, adding he is confident in the abilities and expertise of his current team. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no sense looking backward and worrying about what should have been done in the past. WeB次元官网网址檙e here now and still have work to do before the project is finished.B次元官网网址�
With the bridge deck in place, among the next tasks is construction of the south side pedestrian/cycling paths, which cannot be completed while the old Blue Bridge is still standing.
As well, protective fendering of the bridge must be completed to prevent potential damage due to vessels colliding with it.
Huggett explained that the bridge mechanics will also be tested in a slow, methodical manner.
B次元官网网址淲e certainly wonB次元官网网址檛 just be pushing a button and hoping the bridge goes up,B次元官网网址� he said with a laugh. B次元官网网址淭he first time we raise it will be done over a matter of several hours, with a graduated approach that checks the rails inside the wheels and the gear contacts being inspected as the bridge is very slowly and incrementally raised.B次元官网网址�
Huggett is certain that there will be some hiccups in the remaining work, although he had no idea what those might be. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 always something. But weB次元官网网址檒l identify any problems and deal with them as they arise. ThatB次元官网网址檚 just the way these things work.B次元官网网址�
His observations are based upon decades of experience in major projects around the world.
He recalled his first project in England 45 years ago, when, fresh from graduation, he was tasked with a highway project near Birmingham.
B次元官网网址淚t was my first site experience and I was paired with an older fellow B次元官网网址� I imagine he was the age I am now B次元官网网址� and he told me that I probably thought I knew all there was to know,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 agreed that I did, and he informed me that I knew nothing. Then he promised that he would teach me what I needed to know B次元官网网址� and he did.B次元官网网址�
Huggett drove that stretch of road a few years back, and still remembered his first project with some pride.
Since then, heB次元官网网址檚 worked on a variety of projects, including the Sky Train in Vancouver. When asked what his next job might be, he said he plans to think about that after completing this project. That includes ensuring the bridge has gone up and down a few times and traffic is safely rolling across the span.
B次元官网网址淚f I screw this one up, itB次元官网网址檚 all anyone will ever remember, and I wonB次元官网网址檛 have to worry about the next job. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the nature of the profession,B次元官网网址� he said, laughing again. B次元官网网址淭here are a lot of people with reputations on the line, and youB次元官网网址檙e always only as good as your last project.B次元官网网址�
Find a photo gallery from the Sunday installation work on the page.
