That's how long workers took to restore a Panhandle span wrecked by Hurricane Ivan.
By Associated Press
Published October 6, 2004
[AP photo]
Workers worked around the clock using the latest rapid repair technology and techniques to reopen two lanes of the hurricane damaged Interstate 10 link in Escambia County.
PENSACOLA - Motorists honked and shouted "Thank you!" Tuesday as traffic again flowed across the Florida Panhandle on Interstate 10, nearly three weeks after Hurricane Ivan toppled large sections of a bridge over Escambia Bay.
Photographs of the bridge with a truck dangling over one of the missing eastbound sections symbolized Ivan's destruction across the northern Gulf Coast in mid September. Divers found the body of truck driver Roberto Molina Alvarado of Toppenish, Wash., in the bay where his cab landed.
The reopening shows "Pensacola again is a city on the move," Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said at a ceremony near the spot where Alvarado's truck was found.
"It's a symbol for recovery for northwest Florida that is replacing the symbol of that tragic truck driver," said Gov. Jeb Bush.
Mineta and Bush thanked contractors and state and federal transportation officials who worked as a team to get two westbound lanes of the four-lane bridge reopened only 17 days after a $26.4-million contract was awarded. The bridge reopened at 6:30 a.m., seven days ahead of schedule.
A bridge structure engineer who works for the Florida Department of Transportation in Tallahassee was on site during the project to oversee and inspect repairs, said DOT spokesman Tommie Speights. The necessary testing has been done, Speights said.
"We feel that everything was done in compliance, and no shortcuts were taken," Speights said.
Joe Richards, Tampa area manager for Gilbert Southern Corp., said contractors will try to beat a mid December deadline for opening the two lanes on the more heavily damaged eastbound side, where the truck was left dangling. Until then, traffic will flow one lane in each direction on the westbound span.
A joint venture of Gilbert Southern of Peachtree, Ga., and Massman Construction Co. of Kansas City, Mo., is doing the repairs, assisted by several subcontractors.
Detours while the bridge was out added at least an hour and often two or three hours to trips between Pensacola on the west and Milton on the east side of the bay. About 8,000 trucks travel that stretch of I-10 daily, along with more thousands of commuters and other travelers.
"We have work in Pensacola," said Jim Lucassen, who operates a cleaning service with his wife, Pat. "Yesterday it took us an hour and half to get there. Today it took us 20 minutes."
Retired Army 1st Sgt. George Baxley, 57, of Caryville, was among the first to cross on his way to a doctor's appointment in Pensacola. He had left home about an hour earlier than normal because he expected to run into a detour.
"When I got there they were just taking down the ribbons they had across it to block it," Baxley said. "It was a blessing."
Bush called the quick repairs a "heroic effort."
As many as 127 workers toiled around the clock using the latest in rapid repair equipment and techniques to replace damaged bridge sections and, in some cases, pilings, Richards said.
The last section was dropped into place Monday night, said Gilbert Southern division manager Scott Cassels.
"I saw lots of handshakes and pats on the back," Cassels said. "I even saw a hug or two. When you see contractors hug, it's a special event."
