This video featuring a massive I-beam en route to become part of a bridge in Washington state is a must-see for heavy haul enthusiasts.
The video shared by trucker Daryl Patrick features a 220 feet long, 231,000 pound concrete I-beam recently installed at the I-5 overpass in Fife.
According to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), crews moved five girders overnight on August 28 and August 29 across I-5 to support the new 70th Avenue East Bridge in Fife. “These girders are some of the longest pre-cast bridge girders ever made. Each one is 220 feet long — about the length of a 747-8 jet’s wingspan,” WSDOT said.
“Building a bridge with these record-sized girders saves time, construction costs and ultimately lessens disruptions to travelers,” said Puget Sound Gateway Program Administrator John White. “A more traditional bridge with shorter girders would have required us to widen I-5, build support columns in the median and close lanes for much longer periods of time.”
The previous record I-beams were 205 feet long and installed in 2011 on a Highway 99 overpass in the Seattle area.
The project shut down all lanes of I-5 between 54th Avenue East in Fife and SR 18 in Federal Way overnight over the weekend, but all lanes reopened by noon on Sunday.